If You Like... Iconic Author/Illustrator Duos

Whether you're a sucker for the classics or a fan of a newer illustrative style, here are some masterful author and illustrator duos who bring excellence to both words and pictures and combine them in such a way that success is guaranteed.

Modern Powerhouses:

Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen

The Three Billy Goats Gruff

Written by Mac Barnett

Illustrated by Jon Klassen

New York: Orchard Books, an imprint of Scholastic, Inc., 2022. Picture Book.

The witty words of Mac Barnett are perfectly brought to life by the inimitable Jon Klassen in this humorous take on the classic story of The Three Billy Goats Gruff.

Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham

Pretty Perfect Kitty-corn

Written by Shannon Hale

Illustrated by LeUyen Pham

New York: Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2022. Picture Book.

Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham have taken their real life friendship and transformed it into many heartwarming collaborations. Their most recent story is the second installment in their Kitty-corn series, Pretty Perfect Kitty-corn. This book also features two friends, Kitty and Unicorn, however this time around when Unicorn who strives to be perfect, embarrasses himself, he becomes worried Kitty won't like him anymore.

Minh Lê and Dan Santat

The Blur

Written by Minh Lê

Illustrated by Dan Santat

New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2022. Picture Book.

Though only three collaborations deep, the duo of Minh Lê and Dan Santat, have already produced such quality books that it certainly makes them a team to eagerly watch in the future. Their latest joint effort is The Blur, a story that compares the phenomenon of a child's development from birth to young adulthood with superhero-like abilities.

Classic:

Roald Dahl and Quentin Blake

Matilda

Written by Roald Dahl

Illustrated by Quentin Blake

New York, N.Y.: Viking Kestrel, 1988. Fiction. 240 pages.

When you think of the iconic works of Roald Dahl it is impossible to separate it from the masterful images crafted by Quentin Blake. With a collaboration that lasted decades, this quintessential author and illustrator duo are the ideal for future generations. One such work is Matilda, the story of a young girl genius who uses her telekinetic powers to thwart the evil headmistress of her school, Ms. Trunchball.

Dude, That's Rude! (Get Some Manners) by Pamela Espeland & Elizabeth Verdick

If there's one book today's kids need to read, it is Dude, That's Rude! (Get Some Manners) . The authors provide a fun format for teaching etiquette to children. They discuss proper behavior at home, at school, at other people's homes and in public places. The information is completely up-to-date with cellphone manners and netiquette included. Fun, cartoony illustrations are on practically every page giving the book great visual appeal. This book is perfect for boys and girls in the fourth grade or older. WARNING: Bodily functions are discussed.

Faces of the Moon by Bob Crelin

Faces of the Moon by Bob Crelin Illustrated by Leslie Evans Charlesburg; 2009; unpaged Faces of the Moon is a short nonfiction book that describes the different phases of the moon and why the moon appears like it does on certain nights. This book is short and sweet so even the youngest of moon lovers will enjoy it. The layout is simplistic and easy to follow. I don’t know much about the moon so I found it very interesting.

Review: The Factory

The Factory By Catherine Egan New York, NY : Scholastic Inc., 2025. Fiction. 306 pages. Thirteen-year-old Asher Doyle has been invited to join the Factory, a secretive research facility in the desert which ostensibly extracts renewable energy from the electromagnetic fields of its young recruits. But Asher soon realizes something sinister is going on. Kids are getting sick. The adults who run the Factory seem to be keeping secrets. And the extraction process is not only painful and exhausting, but existentially troubling. Asher makes a handful of new friends who help him with an investigation that turns into a resistance, which turns into...a cliffhanger! The Factory is a page-turning sci-fi with multidimensional characters, an intriguing plot, and refreshingly straight-forward writing. Egan weaves in detail about climate crises and social unrest, making the story's dystopian setting feel rich and plausible. With its sophisticated themes and accessible storytelling, I would recomm...

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