Laura Vaccaro Seeger is a New York Times best-selling author and the recipient of a 2008 Caldecott Honor, a 2008 Geisel Honor, a 2007 New York Times Best Illustrated Book Award, and the 2007 Boston Globe/Horn Book Award for Best Picture Book.

Laura was born on June 11th and raised on Long Island, New York. She grew up in a house full of laughter with her parents, Vera and Phil, her brothers, Billy and Tommy, her sister, Linda, and both grandmothers. She began drawing at two years old and never stopped.

Laura studied art at the School of Fine Art and Design at Purchase in Westchester, New York, where she received her BFA degree. After graduating from art school, she moved to Manhattan and immediately began a career as an animator, artist, and editor in the network television business. She created show openings and special segments for NBC and ABC for many years and she won an Emmy Award for an opening animation for an NBC special.

Laura has been an artist and a writer for as long as she can remember and has always wanted to make picture books for children. In fact, she recently came across an essay that she'd written while in the fifth grade, when she stated with absolute certainty that she was born to make picture books. By that time, Laura had written and illustrated her own little library. Over the years, she continued to make books of all shapes and sizes and several years ago, she finally decided that it was time to try to get some of her books published. She was fortunate to have met her editor, Neal Porter, almost immediately. They are now starting work on their twelfth book together and have plans for many more.

Laura now lives in Rockville Centre, Long Island, with her husband, Chris, their two sons, Drew and Dylan, and their dog, Copper. Copper is the star of Laura's "Dog and Bear" series. Laura loves painting, surfing, tennis, playing the piano, and spending time with her family. She takes long walks at the beach every day and paints in her studio each night.

One Boy
written and illustrated by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
Roaring Brook Press, 2008
ages 4 to 8, ISBN 978-1596432741

One Boy is a perfect example of why Kirkus Reviews calls Laura Vaccaro Seeger the “emerging master of the concept book”—a die-cut book exploring counting and words-within-words, and the power of art and imagination. At the start, readers see a sad boy surrounded by empty, lonely chairs. At his feet is a bag with paint brushes peeking out. The text reads “ONE boy” which—with a turn of the page and a look through a cleverly cut hole—turns into “all alONE.” Page after page, the book becomes populated with seals, apes, and monkeys, all examples of words-within-words. Finally, we come back to “ONE boy” who is “all dONE,” and we discover where all the characters came from.

Dog and Bear: Two’s Company
written and illustrated by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
Roaring Brook Press, 2008
ages 4 to 8, ISBN 978-1596432734

In three new stories, the two dearest of friends celebrate Bear's birthday, have their first falling out, and take care of each other when Dog is under the weather.

Awards
Four starred reviews

First the Egg
written and illustrated by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
Roaring Brook Press, 2007
ages 4 to 8, ISBN 978-1596432727

Which came first? The chicken or the egg? Simple die-cuts magically present transformation—from seed to flower, tadpole to frog, caterpillar to butterfly.

The acclaimed author of Black? White! Day? Night! and Lemons Are Not Red gives an entirely fresh and memorable presentation to the concepts of transformation and creativity. Seed becomes flower, paint becomes picture, word becomes story—and the commonplace becomes extraordinary as children look through and turn the pages of this novel and winning book.

Awards
2008 Caldecott Honor Book; 2008 Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Book; New York Times Best Seller; New York Times Best Illustrated Book of 2007; ALA Notable Book (American Library Association), 2008; Horn Book Fanfare Best Book of 2007; Oppenheim Platinum Award, 2008; A NAIBA Children’s Pick of the List, 2007

Dog and Bear: Two Friends – Three Stories
written and illustrated by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
Roaring Brook Press, 2007
ages 4 to 8, ISBN 978-1596430532

Laura Vaccaro Seeger's highly praised concept books have introduced children to colors, opposites, emotions, and the alphabet. Now she guides children on the first steps to reading with three sweet, funny stories about a stuffed bear and a frisky dachshund who happen to be best friends. Simple, engaging texts and bright, colorful pictures make this a perfect book for emergent readers to read by themselves or to share with friends. And in Dog and Bear, readers will discover two chaming characters, ready to take their place on the shelves next to Henry and Mudge, Frog and Toad, and George and Martha.

Awards
Boston Globe/Horn Book Award Winner Best Picture Book, 2007; ALA Notable Book (American Library Association), 2008; a Kirkus Reviews Best Children’s Book of the Year, 2007; a Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year, 2007; a New York Public Library Best Book for Giving and Sharing, 2007; a Parenting Magazine Mom-Tested Best Book of the Year, 2007; a Philadelphia Inquirer Best Book of the Year, 2007

Black? White! Day? Night! A Book of Opposites
written and illustrated by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
Roaring Brook Press, 2006
ages 4 to 8, ISBN 978-1596431850

Having explored the alphabet (The Hidden Alphabet), colors (Lemons Are Not Red), and emotions (Walter Was Worried), Laura Vaccaro Seeger turns her extraordinary talents to opposites in this bright, colorful and imaginative book. Through a series of ingenious die-cut pages, the reader discovers things that are the opposite of what they seem: A black bat is transformed into a white ghost, a sunny day magically becomes a starry night. Posed as a series of 18 questions and answers, Black? White! Day? Night! is sure to be a big success with small children everywhere.

Awards
ALA Notable Book (American Library Association), 2007; a Child Magazine Best Book of 2006; a Nick Jr./Family Magazine Best Book of 2006; a Booklist Editors’ Choice, 2007; a Kirkus Best Book of 2006; a BookSense Pick of the Lists Book, 2006; a CCBC Choices Best Book of 2007; a Capitol Choices 2007 Noteworthy Book for Children; a Bank Street College of Education Best Book of 2006; a Pennsylvania Center for the Book “Baker’s Dozen”, 2006

Walter Was Worried
written and illustrated by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
Roaring Brook Press, 2006
ages 4 to 8, ISBN 978-1596431966

Opposite the simple declarative sentence, "Walter was worried" is a portrait of a very worried Walter. But wait! The letters that spell out his feelings form his facial characteristics, as well as his expression. Gradually a simple story unfolds: the sky grows dark, the fog rolls in, lightning lights the sky, and thunder shakes the trees; Priscilla was puzzled, Shirley was shocked, Frederick was frightened... and eventually (when the sun came out) Henry was hopeful, and Elliot ecstatic.

Awards
ALA Notable Book (American Library Association), 2006; a Child Magazine Best Book of 2005; a CCBC Choices Best Book of 2005; a 2006 IRA Children’s Choice Best Book

Hidden Alphabet
written and illustrated by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
Roaring Brook Press, 2003
ages 4 to 8, ISBN 978-0761319412

Open this unusual book and you'll be greeted by a striking image of an arrowhead, surrounded by a simple black frame. Lift the frame and the arrowhead will be magically transformed into the letter A. And so it goes, from Balloons, Cloud, and Door, through Leaf and Mice, to Yolk and Zipper. Bold distinctive images and a simple yet ingenious format make this a concept book, and a gift book, to treasure.

Awards
ALA Notable Book (American Library Association), 2004; a Child Magazine Best Book of 2003; a New York Public Library Best Book for Giving and Sharing, 2003; an NBC Today Show Best Book for Gift Giving, 2003; a Kirkus Best Book of 2003; a Children’s Literature 2004 Choices Best Book; a Capitol Choices 2004 Noteworthy Book for Children; a CCBC Choices Best Book of 2003

I Had a Rooster: a traditional folk song
foreword by Pete Seeger, illustrated by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
Viking Juvenile, 2001
ages 4 to 8, ISBN 978-0670035212 (out of print)

I had a rooster and the rooster pleased me
I fed my rooster on the green berry tree
The little rooster went cock-a-doodle doo
Dee doodle dee doodle dee doodle dee doo

Start with a crowing rooster and turn the pages to see the animals pile up, one by one. As the lyrics add a meowing cat, a quacking duck, and more friendly critters, the stepped pages offer a creative way to read a cumulative story without leaving any of the animals behind.

Emmy-Award winning artist, Laura Vaccaro Seeger beautifully illustrates a traditional folk song popularized by singer Pete Seeger. A CD recording and the written music make this the perfect gift for folk music fans of all ages!

Awards
a CCBC Choices Best Book of 2001; CCBC Book of the Week

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