Marisabina Russo facts for kids

Marisabina Russo, born Marisabina Stark on May 1, 1950, is a talented author and illustrator of books for children and young adults. She has created more than twenty books, both writing the stories and drawing the pictures. Some of her most famous books include The Line Up Book, which won a special award, and Always Remember Me, recognized as an important book by the American Library Association.

Early Life and Education

Marisabina Russo was born in New York City, a big and exciting city in the United States. She loved art and went to Mount Holyoke College. In 1971, she earned a degree in Studio Art, which means she studied how to create different kinds of art.

Becoming an Artist and Author

Marisabina started her career as a freelance illustrator. This means she worked for different companies and people, drawing pictures for them. Her artwork often appeared in The New Yorker magazine, a very famous publication. She even drew several covers for the magazine!

Later, she illustrated a book of poetry for kids called Vacation Time, written by Nikki Giovanni. This was a step towards creating books for young readers.

Writing Her Own Stories

In 1986, Marisabina Russo began publishing her own stories with Greenwillow Books. Her ideas for books often come from her own childhood memories. She also gets inspiration from her experiences as a mother. This helps her create stories that many children and families can relate to.

Her Unique Art Style

Marisabina's illustrations are very special. She paints them using a type of paint called gouache. Her pictures are bright and colorful, and they often look flat or two-dimensional. This style reminds many people of folk art, which is art made by ordinary people, often with simple, traditional designs.

Notable Works and Recognition

Marisabina Russo has written many popular books. The Line Up Book is one of her most well-known works. It won the IRA Children’s Book Award, which is a big honor in children's literature. Always Remember Me was also recognized as an ALA Notable Book.

More recently, Marisabina has also written novels for young adults. In 2021, she published a special kind of book called a graphic memoir. It's titled Why Is Everybody Yelling? Growing Up in My Immigrant Family. This book tells her own story through both words and pictures.

Reaching Readers Worldwide

Marisabina Russo's books are enjoyed by children all over the world. Her stories have been translated into other languages, including Korean and Japanese. This means kids in different countries can read and enjoy her work.

She has worked with many different publishers throughout her career. Some of these include Simon & Schuster, Random House, Roaring Brook Press, Harcourt, Brace, and Macmillan Publishers.