About the Artist
By Diane Greenseid
Diane Greenseid was not the class artist as a youngster. Her only memorable art experience in grade school was when a teacher had the class draw a tree. Diane drew a dead tree stump and the teacher made a big fuss over it. The only thing she really loved to do (other than dance) was to be silly and playful, and she continues to love those qualities to this very day.
Her art interests began to bloom when she was a senior in high school, but she wasn't sure which type of art she should specialize in. She loved photography, but was too shy to go out and take pictures. She went to Otis Art Institute for a very short stint and concentrated on fine art. Somehow that didn't feel quite right since she had no "profound" ideas. So she dropped out of college and worked as a waitress at a restaurant with hardly any customers. After that she worked as a secretary at the Los Angeles Museum of Art, all the while taking art classes here and there at night or on Saturdays. She knew she had found her niche when she took a children's book illustration class from Diane Goode at UCLA Extension. Now she could be playful AND do her art at the same time, a perfect combination!
She eventually went to the Art Center College of Design and graduated at age 30. She worked as a graphic artist for ten years until she finally got her portfolio looking like she wanted it. At that time she went with her boyfriend (now her husband who was also an aspiring children's book illustrator) to New York where they pounded the pavement trying to get a book to illustrate. Diane's first book was Wilson Sat Alone for Simon and Schuster at the age of 41. She seems to do something new every ten years, so she is hoping one of these days to also write one of the books she illustrates.
Diane lives in Venice, California with her husband Pete McCabe, their two dogs, Ida and Rosie, and their cat, Leo.
Children's Books Illustrated by Diane Greenseid
- And Then it Rained by Crescent Dragonwagon. Atheneum, 2003.
- Cat Parade by Bethany Roberts. Clarion, 1996.
- Chicken for a Day by Frances Minters. Random House, 2000.
- Follow Me! by Bethany Roberts. Clarion, 1998.
- Get Up and Go! by Stuart Murphy. Harper, 1996.
- Mrs. Piccolo’s Easy Chair by Jean Jackson. DK Publishing, 1999.
- We Had a Picnic This Sunday by Jacqueline Woodson. Disney, 1998.
- When Aunt Lena Did the Rhumba by Eileen Kurtis. Disney, 1997.
- When the Pigs Took Over by Arthur Dorros. Dutton, 2002.
- Wilson Sat Alone by Debra Hess. Simon and Schuster, 1994.
Awards for Diane Greenseid’s Books
We Had a Picnic received a starred review from School Library Journal and a pointer from Kirkus and was a Notable Children’s Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies for 1999 presented by the National Council for Social Studies. It also was selected as one of twelve nominees for the 1999 and 2000 Bill Martin, Jr. Picture Book Award of the Kansas Reading Association. It was also included in the Society of Illustrator’s Original Art Show for 1997.
Wilson Sat Alone was a featured book on PBS Storytime.
When Aunt Lena Did the Rhumba was a featured book on Reading Rainbow and was included in the 1998 Bank Street College Best Books of the Year and the Society of Illustrator’s Original Art Show for 1998.
About the Authors
Jeanette Larson
Jeanette Larson is the Youth Services Manager for Austin Public Library. She directs the library’s services for youth at 21 library locations and oversees ten award-winning Wired for Youth technology centers.
Jeanette is the author of two prior manuals for the Texas Reading Club, Animal Antics and The Secret Code is R*E*A*D. A frequent contributor to Book Links, Texas Library Journal, and other publications, Jeanette is also the author of Bringing Mysteries Alive for Children and Young Adults (Linworth, 2004) and Model Policies for Small and Medium Public Libraries (Neal-Schuman, 1998).
An active member of the Association for Library Services for Children, Jeanette has served twice on the Newbery Award Committee. She is also a member of the Texas Library Association, which honored her as Librarian of the Year in 1998 and with the Siddie Joe Johnson Award in 2002. Jeanette has almost 30 years experience in libraries in Texas at Irving Public Library, Mesquite Public Library, and at the Texas State Library and in California at Anaheim Public Library.
James W. Larson
James W. Larson, who illustrated the crafts in this manual, is a licensed architect and a graduate of the University of New Mexico. He has prepared patterns and illustrations for Animal Antics: Program Guide for the Texas Reading Club, 1987 and The Secret Code is R*E*A*D: Program Guide for the Texas Reading Club, 1990. He also prepared illustrations for Bringing Mysteries Alive for Children and Young Adults (Linworth, 2004) and is a frequent contributor to library programs and events.
Rose Treviño
Rose Treviño, author of the bilingual chapter, is the Youth Services Coordinator for the Houston Public Library. She is an active member of the ALA Association of Library Services for Children, the TLA Children’s Round Table, and REFORMA, the Association to Promote Library Service to the Spanish Speaking. Presently she is the Chair of the Pura Belpré Award Selection Committee and Co-chair of the Youth Services Committee for REFORMA, both ALA appointments; and is Chair-elect of the Children’s Round Table. She has served on the Newbery Award Committee, the Texas Bluebonnet Award Committee and the 2 X 2 Reading List Committee. She is currently chair of the Kellogg Foundation Committee for TLA whose mission it is to promote El día de los niños, el día de los libros throughout the state. In addition, Rose is a consultant and presents workshops for librarians in the area of youth services.
Purly Gates
Multi-instrumentalist Purly Gates has taken her programs all over the planet. She was awarded a National Endowment for the Arts grant for a 3-month residency in Micronesia and flew to Disneyworld for an Earth Day concert. According to the YMCA program director in Bellows Falls, VT, she's a musician, storyteller, community builder, educator, peacemaker, and environmental advocate all in one.
Her repertoire is vast and covers decades of performing. Her presentations include fun and educational songs addressing topics such as diversity, self-esteem, our western heritage, and the environment, with some songs in Spanish, too.
Purly has performed at libraries from the east to the west coast and in schools, camps, festivals and other venues. She does concerts, residencies, staff training, and instrument-making workshops for folks of all ages. She tours for nearly six months out of the year and splits her time between Texas and New England. Purly has two recordings for children: Singin’ on A Star on the Gentle Wind label and Songs for a Healthy World on the Sound Music label. Her web site is www.purlygates.com.
Sally Meyers
Sally Meyers, creator of the piggyback theme song, “Color Your World…Read!” has been the Children’s Services Coordinator for the Tom Green County Library System in San Angelo for twelve years. Previously she was teacher-director of La Escuelita Preschool. Ms. Meyers served on the Texas Reading Club Advisory Committee from 1994-1998 and has written a Texas Reading Club theme song for every program since 1995.
Steven P. Treviño
Steven P. Treviño is a 1999 graduate of the University of Texas at Austin where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering. He illustrated Mission Possible, Spy a Book! : 2003 Texas Reading Club Manual and Ready— Set— Read!: Program Guide for the Texas Reading Club, 1996 for the Texas State Library. He is currently working as a project manager for ARTchitectural Interiors by Salas & Company in San Antonio, a custom manufacturer of fine furniture and architectural millwork.
