About the author examples for children’s books
A children’s book bio is read aloud by a parent or teacher, so it should be short, warm, and easy to picture. A pet, a childhood memory, or a funny habit works better than a list of credits. Choose one to see it on the page, or write your own.
By the Proselis team · Updated
Short bios for picture books
Priya Nair writes picture books about brave, curious kids. She lives in Austin, Texas, with a dog named Pickles.
Ben Okafor is a librarian who reads aloud to forty children every Saturday. This is his first picture book.
Mei Lin loves rainy days, muddy boots, and the color green. She lives in Seattle, where all three are easy to find.
Carlos Vega writes and draws in a tiny studio above a bike shop in Tucson, Arizona.
Bios written to young readers
When Priya Nair was your age, she built a blanket fort so big that her cat moved in. Now she writes books about kids who build big things too.
Ben Okafor has read more than a thousand picture books out loud. His favorite part is the page right before the surprise.
Mei Lin once found a frog in her rain boot. She did not scream. She wrote this book instead.
Rosa Delgado grew up with five brothers, which is why every book she writes has a lot of noise in it.
Bios for middle-grade authors
Theo Park writes adventure stories for readers ages 8 to 12. He grew up in Hawaii, learned to surf at seven, and still falls off the board more than he stays on.
Nina Alvarez was the kid who read under the desk during math class. Now she writes the kind of funny, fast books she wished she had then.
Bios for teachers and librarians who write
Grace Whitfield taught kindergarten for eighteen years and kept a notebook of every funny thing her students said. This book started on page 112.
Omar Said is a school librarian in Detroit who helps kids find the book that turns them into readers. He hopes this is one of them.
Bios for author-illustrators
Ana Kowalski writes and illustrates books from her kitchen table, where she paints with watercolors and drinks too much tea.
Felix Moreau drew his first picture book on the back of restaurant placemats. He now uses real paper, mostly.
Who is a children’s author bio really for?
Picture book bios are read aloud by adults, so they should make sense to grown-ups and still delight a child. Middle-grade bios can speak straight to young readers. Either way, keep the sentences short enough to read without stumbling.
Where does the bio go in a picture book?
Most picture books put it on the last page or the back flap, often beside the illustrator’s bio. Space is tight, so two to four sentences are enough.
First person or third person?
Third person is the convention inside books and on covers because it reads like an introduction. First person feels more personal and suits newsletters, websites, and query letters.
Where does the About the Author page go?
It usually sits at the back of the book, after the acknowledgments. Some nonfiction books put a short bio at the front instead so readers see the author’s expertise before the first chapter.
Questions
Should the illustrator get a bio too?
Yes. Most picture books give the author and the illustrator a short bio each, set side by side so readers know who made the words and who made the pictures.
Should I include a photo in a picture book?
A small photo helps, especially for school visits, where kids like to know who they are meeting. Make sure it prints clearly at a small size.
Should I include an author photo?
A clear, recent photo helps readers remember you. For a printed book, use an image that is at least 300 DPI at the size it will print.
Can I use the same bio everywhere?
Keep one long version, and cut it down for each place: about 150 words inside the book, 50 for the back cover, and one line for social media.
Add your bio to your book
Proselis builds an About the Author page from your name, bio, photo, and social links, and it places the page in your back matter. Writing is free. Publishing a book as an EPUB and a print-ready PDF is a one-time $20.