Stephen Gammell

Stephen Gammell, a native Iowan, grew up surrounded by magazines, pencils, paper, and his parents' support. His love of drawing led him to freelance artwork and then to illustrating children's books. Even without any formal schooling in art, Gammell's talents show through his work.

He first became published in 1973, and since then has illustrated over fifty books. With a touch of surprise and fun on each page, Gammell's illustrations have earned him Caldecott Honors for both Where the Buffaloes Begin and The Relatives Came. Where the Buffaloes Begin also received the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award and a New York Times Best Illustrated Books award. In 1989 Song and Dance Man won the Caldecott Medal. Gammell's illustrations also appear in the books series Scary Stories to tell in the Dark.