About Barbara McClintock


Photo by Shana Sureck

Award-winning children’s book author and illustrator Barbara McClintock draws like a dream; her ‘beautifully restrained use of color may evoke a long-ago time, but her compositions are so dynamic that there’s always something for contemporary children to discover.’
— Michael Cart, Booklist

‘Full of humor and wit and strong characterizations, her books are timeless charmers.’
—The New York Times Book Review

Barbara McClintock is an American illustrator and author of over 40 books for children. Her books have received numerous awards and citations, including five New York Times Best Illustrated Picture Book Awards, four ALA Notable Book Citations, a Boston Globe/Horn Book Honor Award, a China Times Best Illustrated Books Award, and a British Fantasy Award. One of her books is a best-selling title in Japan.

Her artwork has been exhibited and is in the collections of libraries, museums and galleries around the world.

She has lectured about her work nationally and internationally, and is currently teaching classes on creating children’s books at Wesleyan University. She has served on the board of directors of the Eric Carle Museum, and chaired the Original Art Show at the Society of Illustrators.

Barbara is self-educated as an illustrator, learning by studying and copying artwork from books checked out of public libraries.

Originally from New Jersey and North Dakota, she now resides in northeastern CT with her partner, the illustrator David Johnson, and their three overly-helpful cats.