Award-winning illustrator, Chris Soentpiet (SOON-peet) is the recipient of the Parents' Magazine Best Book of the Year for SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL. His other prestigious honors include the International Reading Association (IRA) Book Award for MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE, MOLLY BANNAKY & COOLIES which also won the Parents' Choice Gold Award.  Soentpiet works have appeared on national television.  His illustrations have been featured or reviewed in the New York Times, Houston Chronicle, Ebony Magazine, Newsweek, USA Today and others.  He is the recipient of the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work for his illustrations in MY BROTHER MARTIN.  In 1996, he received the highest honor, a Gold Medal from the Society of Illustrators.  This award, Soentpiet state is the highest honor bestowed to an artist because unlike the Caldecott, this award is judged by fellow illustrators. 

Soentpiet stunning realistic watercolors plays with the illumination of light. His artistic realism earned him distinctions from the American Library Association.  A Korean-born adoptee, his multicultural background and experiences are reflected in his choice of distinct cultural and historical settings for his books.  

Soentpiet's multi-cultural books are already being used in classrooms to help educators integrate social studies to their classroom lessons.  In addition to creating his award-winning picture books, Soentpiet visits schools to help kids understand the book making process. His school presentations engage and reinforce learning, use of imagination and foster creative thinking.    In addition, Chris loves to speak at conferences across the country.  To find out more, visit his website at www.soentpiet.com

Chris resides in New York City with his wife Yin who is also an author.