Liz Graton Scanlon

Liz Garton Scanlon is the author of more than 30 books for young readers, including picture books Everyone Starts Small; Kate, Who Tamed the Wind; One Dark Bird; the Caldecott-honored All the World, and many others, illustrated by some of the best artists in the business. She's also co-authored several books with Audrey Vernick, including the hilarious Bob, Not Bob, The World’s Best Class Plant, and the brand new Homesick. Scanlon’s middle grade novels are The Great Good Summer and Lolo's Light, and her Bibsy Cross chapter book series debuted in 2024 to critical acclaim.  Liz is proud to have taught at Austin Community College, the Writers’ League of Texas, Whale Rock Workshops, and the Vermont College of Fine Arts. She lives and writes in Austin, Texas.

• Picture books
• Poetry
• Chapter books

• The power of the read-aloud
• Poetics and lyricism 
• Theme for the youngest reader

• Texas leadership team, Authors Against Book Bans (2024-2026)
• Faculty Co-Chair, Vermont College of Fine Arts WCYA program (2021-2023)
• Margaret Wise Brown Award Jury Member (2021)

• UT Austin, MA in English-Creative Writing, 1994
• UW Madison, BA in Journalism, 1990

• Faculty, Whalerock Workshops,  2023-present
• Faculty, Vermont College of Fine Arts, 2016-2024
• Adjunct Faculty, Austin Community College, 1994-2000, 2005-2013

• Margaret Wise Brown Honor Award, One Dark Bird, 2020.
• SCBWI Charlotte and Wilbur Award Honor Book, Full Moon Pups, 2023.
• Wisconsin Library Assn Outstanding Achievement in Children’s Literature Award, 2023.
• Texas Institute of Letters Inductee, 2023.
• 15 Degree Laboratory’s 2025 Giverny Award, The World’s Best Class Plant, 2025.

• All the World, illustrated by Marla Frazee, Beach Lane Books/Simon & Schuster, 2009 (boardbook 2015). 
• Lolo’s Light, Chronicle Books, 2022 (ages 8-12).
• Bibsy Cross chapter book series (books 1-4), illustrated by Dung Ho. Knopf, 2024-2025. 
• Otis Knows, co-written with Martha Brockenbrough, illustrated by Stephanie Laberis. Beach Lane Books/Simon & Schuster, 2026.
• Homesick, co-written with Audrey Vernick, illustrated by Daniel Miyares, Neal Porter Books/Holiday House, 2026.