



ELIZABETH LILLY (she/her) is an author, illustrator, animator and educator. Elizabeth’s work deals with the difficulty of understanding and loving yourself, and the celebration of your true self once you find it. She struggled to find her own identity growing up, but now finds pride and joy in her own identity as a lesbian, biracial Colombian Latina.
Elizabeth's first author-illustrated picture book, GERALDINE, about a lonely giraffe girl navigating life a human school, was released from Roaring Brook Press in 2018. Her second book, LET ME FIX YOU A PLATE about the love and food in her dual Colombian and American cultures, was released in fall 2021. Her work has won many distinctions and awards, including starred reviews in major publications, the Junior Library Guild Selection, the Charlotte Zolotow Honor for picture book writing, the 2021 list of ALA Notable books, and the Publishers’ Weekly list of the Best Picture Books of 2021.
Elizabeth’s illustrations feature pen-and-ink drawings that are loose and concise and deeply expressive of her characters’ nuanced emotions. Elizabeth also practices 2D frame-by-frame character animation and is working on her first animated short film. When she is not writing, painting or drawing, Elizabeth teaches illustration, drawing and storytelling as an adjunct professor at Towson University. She lives in Takoma Park, Maryland with her partner and white fluffy dog, Ponyo.
ELIZABETH is represented by literary agency Pippin Properties. Contact her agent Elena (egiovinazzo@pippinproperties.com) for children's book inquiries.
PRESS
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Starred book reviews in Kirkus, Publisher's Weekly, School Library Journal.
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Publisher's Weekly magazine article: selected as one of eight promising new children's literature talents featured every year as a "Flying Start"
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SouthernLiving feature: "Best New Children's Books Coming out Summer 2018"
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"Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast" blog post: featured up-and-coming illustrator
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Cynthia Leitich Smith children's book blog: in-depth interview about creative process
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ArtClash online art publication interview about creative process: "Whimsy-Colored Glasses"
AWARDS
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2018 Junior Library Guild (JLG) selection
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Starred reviews Kirkus, Publisher's Weekly, School Library Journal
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Maryland Black Eyed Susan Book Award shortlist
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Maine Chickadee Book Award shortlist
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PAL Award (given for best books to assist in speech therapy)