Steve Light
{{tone|date=April 2015}}
{{Short description|American author, storyteller, and illustrator of children's books}}
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| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1970|03|19}}
| birth_place = Staten Island, New York
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| occupation = Author, Illustrator, Storyteller
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| alma_mater = Pratt Institute
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| genre = Children's Books
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Steve Light (born March 19, 1970) is an American author, storyteller, and illustrator of children's books. Born in Staten Island, New York, he graduated from the Pratt Institute and then studied with David J. Passalcqua. Light started storytelling while teaching at West Side Montessori in Manhattan.{{cite web|title=Steve Light: In the Artist's Studio at Perrot!|url=http://www.perrotlibrary.org/old_library_events/stevelight.htm|work=Library Events|publisher=Perrot Library|accessdate=4 March 2012}} At that time, he developed his own storytelling device he calls “storyboxes”. “Steve Light’s Storyboxes” debuted at the New York Toy Fair in February 2012 by Guidecraft toys.{{cite web|title=Hansel & Gretel|url=http://www.guidecraft.com/product/0/G6501/_/Hansel_%26_Gretel|work=Guidecraft - Storytelling - Steve Light|publisher=Guidecraft|accessdate=5 March 2012}} Light published his first book Abrams Publishing Puss in Boots (2002){{cite web|title=Puss in Boots|url=http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-8109-4368-1|work=Children's Review|publisher=Publishers Weekly|accessdate=8 March 2012}} and The Shoemaker Extraordinaire (2002).
Career
Upon graduating from the Pratt Institute, Light worked as an illustrator in the corporate world. He created illustrations for companies such as AT&T, Sony Films, Absolut Vodka, and the New York Times Book Review. Light has also designed buttons that were acquired by the Cooper-Hewitt Design Museum.{{cite web|title=Steve Light|url=https://www.amazon.com/Steve-Light/e/B001KHVDKI/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1|publisher=Amazon.com|accessdate=5 March 2012}}
He went on to create “Press out and Play” books, a unique building book. Two Hello Kitty and one Uncle Sam books were produced under the “Press out and Play” line.
In 2003, Light made a Touch-and-Feel book of feelings titled I Am Happy, published by Candlewick Press.
Light took a break from children’s books to produce his own children’s TV show pilot, “Storytime with Steve Light”. When Light returned to publishing, he wrote and illustrated Trucks Go with Chronicle Books in 2008{{cite web|last=Allport|first=Brandy|title='Trucks Go' has sights, sounds to transport young minds|url=http://jacksonville.com/lifestyles/columnists/brandy_allport/2009-05-11/story/trucks_go_has_sights_sounds_to_transport_young#loopbegin|work=Lifestyles / Columnists / Brandy Allport|publisher=Florida Times-Union; Jacksonville.com|accessdate=15 March 2012}} followed by Trains Go in 2012.
Light then returned to Candlewick Press to write and illustrate The Christmas Giant{{cite web|last=Macpherson|first=Karen|title=Corner: A sleigh-load of great holiday books for kids|url=http://www.scrippsnews.com/node/58178|publisher=scrippsnews|accessdate=15 March 2012}} which received a Publishers Weekly starred review.{{cite web|title=The Christmas Giant|url=http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-7636-4692-9|work=Children's Review|publisher=Publishers Weekly|accessdate=4 March 2012}} His book Zephyr Takes Flight in October 2012 was also published by Candlewick Press.
Light designed the opening titles for Arian Moayed’s short independent film Overdue.
Light lives in Manhattan with his wife and cat, and when he is not writing or illustrating books, he is teaching at Temple Shaaray Tefilla Nursery school in New York City. Light has told stories from his books and storyboxes in the Milwaukee Art Museum, as well as many libraries and schools in the Tri-State Area. Most of his ideas come from his drawings, which he enjoys making daily.{{cite web|title=bios|url=http://www.candlewick.com/authill.asp?b=Author&m=bio&id=2954&pix=y|work=Steve Light|publisher=Candlewick Press|accessdate=4 March 2012}} Light loves to draw mostly with fountain pens; he loves sharing his passion for these vintage drawing tools with children and adults alike.
Works
File:Steve Light (10913).jpg in 2018]]
- Steve Light’s Storyboxes
- [https://books.google.com/books?id=7X6iNwAACAAJ&q=%22Steve+Light%22 Puss in Boots](Harry N. Abrams, 2002) {{ISBN|978-0-8109-4368-1}}
- [https://books.google.com/books?id=f9tyAAAACAAJ&q=%22Steve+Light%22 I Am Happy] (Candlewick Press, 2003) {{ISBN|978-0-7636-1753-0}}
- Press out and Play - Hello Kitty/Uncle Sam https://books.google.com/books?isbn=0810934981
- [https://books.google.com/books?id=ghPFQgAACAAJ The Shoemaker Extraordinaire] (Harry N. Abrams, 2003) {{ISBN|978-0-8109-4236-3}}
- [https://books.google.com/books?id=rWofMwAACAAJ&q=%22Steve+Light%22 Trucks Go](Chronicle Books, 2008) {{ISBN|978-0-8118-6542-5}}
- [https://books.google.com/books?id=xRtLaJhrVEIC&q=%22Steve+Light%22 The Christmas Giant] (Candlewick Press, 2010) {{ISBN|978-0-7636-4692-9}}
- [https://books.google.com/books?id=1Tm7xQf2M_IC&q=%22Steve+Light%22 Trains Go](Chronicle Books, 2012) {{ISBN|978-0-8118-7942-2}}{{cite web|title=Trains Go|url=http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-8118-7942-2|work=Children's Review|publisher=Publishers Weekly|accessdate=8 March 2012}}{{cite web|title=Trains Go, by Steve Light|url=http://www.dailycandy.com/kids/all-cities/flipbook/118545/Kids-Story-Books#slide=8|work=19 New Books for Kids|publisher=Daily Candy Kids|accessdate=8 March 2012}}
- Zephyr Takes Flight (Candlewick Press, 2012) {{ISBN|978-0763656959}}
- Have You Seen My Dragon? (Candlewick Press, 2014) {{ISBN|978-0763666484}}
- Have You Seen My Monster? (Candlewick Press, 2014) {{ISBN|978-0763675134}}
- Diggers Go (Chronicle Books, 2013) {{ISBN|978-1452118642}}
- Planes Go (Chronicle Books 2014) {{ISBN|978-1452128993}}
- Boats Go (Chronicle Books 2015) {{ISBN|978-1452129006}}
- Cars Go (Chronicle Books 2016) {{ISBN|978-1452150673}}
- Swap! (Candlewick Press, 2016) {{ISBN|978-0763679903}}
- The Bunny Burrow Buyer’s Book: A Tale of Rabbit Real Estate (POW!, 2016) {{ISBN|978-1576877524}}
- Lucky Lazlo (Candlewick Press, 2016) {{ISBN|978-0763688257}}
- Have You Seen My Lunchbox? (Candlewick Press, 2017) {{ISBN|978-0763690687}}
References
{{Reflist|* Zephyr Takes Flight (Candlewick Press, 2012) {{ISBN|978-0763656959}} * Have You Seen My Dragon? (Candlewick Press, 2014) {{ISBN|978-0763666484}} * Have You Seen My Monster? (Candlewick Press, 2014) {{ISBN|978-0763675134}} * Diggers Go (Chronicle Books, 2013) {{ISBN|978-1452118642}} * Planes Go (Chronicle Books 2014) {{ISBN|978-1452128993}} * Boats Go (Chronicle Books 2015) {{ISBN|978-1452129006}} * Cars Go (Chronicle Books 2016) {{ISBN|978-1452150673}} * Swap! (Candlewick Press, 2016) {{ISBN|978-0763679903}} * The Bunny Burrow Buyer’s Book: A Tale of Rabbit Real Estate (POW!, 2016) {{ISBN|978-1576877524}} * Lucky Lazlo (Candlewick Press, 2016) {{ISBN|978-0763688257}} * Have You Seen My Lunchbox? (Candlewick Press, 2017) {{ISBN|978-0763690687}}=}}
External links
- [http://www.stevelightart.com/ Steve Light's website]
- [http://www.candlewick.com/authill.asp?b=Author&m=bio&id=2954&pix=y Steve Light's Candlewick Press Author Page]
- [http://www.guidecraft.com/stevelight Steve Light's Storyboxes]
- [http://www.writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/guide-to-literary-agents/how-i-write-a-picture-book]
- Puss in Boots (2011 film)
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