JILL KASTNER IllustratorJILL KASTNER Illustrator
As a child, author/illustrator Jill Kastner was always getting into trouble for reading under the covers with a flashlight after the lights had gone out. Her love of painting was even greater however; so, after graduating with a BFA in Illustration from the Rhode Island School of Design in 1986, she began a career illustrating children's books. Kastner has illustrated over twenty books for children, from pioneers and Native American themes to snakes, bears and acrobatic pigs. She thrives on the diversity of her subject matter, and this inevitably leads her to a diversity of manuscripts and a variety of artistic styles.
Her books have been recognized in "Children's Books of the Year" lists by Bank Street College and Smithsonian Magazine, and have been selected for the American Bookseller Association "Pick of the lists" and "Notable Children's Trade Books in the Field of Social Studies".
Kastner's artwork has been exhibited in several galleries and children's book shows across the country. She also lectures on the process of creating children's books.
Jill lives in Weehawken, NJ with her husband Tim, and daughters, Carson and Delaney.
PUBLISHED BOOKS
ILLUSTRATED BY JILL KASTNER:
Aurora Means Dawn by Scott Russell Sanders, Jill Kastner (Illustrator) Reading level: Ages 4-8 Edition: Library Binding, Hardcover Publisher: Turtleback Books Distributed by Demco Media; (January 1998) Paperback: 32 pages ; Publisher: Aladdin Library; Reprint edition (March 1998) 
ISBN: 0606219110 
ISBN: 0689819072
The Sheldon family traveled through the Ohio River Valley in a covered wagon in the 1800s, planning to settle in the town of Aurora. Focusing on this family's hopes and the hardships they faced, Sanders makes history personal and immediate. Full-color illustrations.
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Kastner's shimmering watercolors depict the stormy night and the dawn when Mr. and Mrs. Sheldon survey the land that is to become their own. Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.
The Shepherd Boy by Kristine L. Franklin, Jill Kastner (Illustrator), Alma Flor Ada (Translator) Reading level: Ages 4-8 Edition: School & Library Binding Publisher: Atheneum; (April 1994) 
ASIN: 068931809X
As a young Navajo boy brings his family's sheep home one evening, he discovers one is missing and sets out to rescue it before nightfall.
Editorial Reviews
From Kirkus Reviews - A Pointer Review
... Kastner's freely rendered oil paintings are the glory of this book; her full-bleed art, in panoramas extending nearly across the broad spreads, draws the reader into luminous canyons and evokes the Southwest's wide horizons; a decorative border with a Navajo motif divides the illustrations from a text that's imposed on the same canvas that gives the art texture--Copyright 1994, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
From School Library Journal ... the impressionistic paintings, which capture the rugged grandeur of the Southwest canyon country. The shifting moods of shadow and sunlight; canyon and mesa; and cool morning, hot noon, and velvet night are all skillfully brought to life. So, too, are the ruins of an ancient village and the rock paintings nearby.Carolyn Polese, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Beardream by Will Hobbs, Jill Kastner (Illustrator) Reading level: Ages 4-8 Edition: Hardcover 32 pages; Bt Bound; (March 2001) School & Library Binding: Publisher: Atheneum; (April 1, 1997) 
ISBN: 0613284143
ISBN: 0689319738
Spring has come to the mountains, and the bears have emerged from their winter's sleep -- all but the Great Bear, who sleeps on in his den.
In the Ute village, a boy called Short Tail worries that the Great Bear will starve if he doesn't waken. So Short Tail heads off into the mountains to rouse the Great Bear. But on the way to the Great Bear's den, Short Tail too falls asleep, and slips into a magical dream in which the Great Bear teaches him a wonderful secret to share with his people.
Editorial Reviews
From Kirkus Reviews Kastner's rich, warm oils capture the power of the bears, the landscape, and the people, while her ragged edges fashion blurs between dreams and reality just as the story does. A nice take on the links between the natural and spiritual worlds. -- Copyright 1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
From Booklist Hobbs' fictionalized version of the traditional Ute bear dance story is enhanced by the large picture-book format featuring Kastner's double-spread oil paintings, in which the illustrator cues the dream sequences, subtly exposing the bear and the boy as part of the landscape. Kastner's evocative dance scenes add a fine note of drama to the story. Karen Morgan
Howling Hill by Will Hobbs (Author), Jill Kastner (Illustrator) Reading level: Ages 4-8 Edition: Hardcover: 32 pages ; Publisher: HarperCollins; (September 28, 1998)
ISBN: 0688154298
Hanni the wolf pup has never been alone before, and now she's lost in the wilderness. She's too little and scared even to cry out for help! But Hanni soon learns to trust the world outside and the wolf inside--and finally discovers a howl within, long and deep, that brings her family to the rescue. From an award-winning novelist comes this thrilling picture-book tale, illustrated with dynamic paintings that capture the dramatic landscape of the far north.
Editorial Reviews
From School Library Journal
"[A] fresh adventure story."
From The Horn Book
"An engaging story."
From Booklist
... the oversize format is used to good advantage by Kastner, whose thickly brushed oil paintings display a mastery of both color and texture. Julie Corsaro
The Waterfall Jonathan London, Jill Kastner (Illustrator) Hardcover, 32pages, February 1999
Two brothers and their parents share a wild and wonderful backpacking trip during which they discover a magnificent waterfall and climb to the top of it.
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly Kastner blurs the details with impressionistic strokes, inviting readers into a realm of leafy green and shadowy rock. The surface energy of her paintings exudes the protagonists' excitement and wonder.
From The Horn Book Guide
The simple text and almost impressionistic oil paintings capture mountain wilderness and outdoorsy spirit of the family. - Bridget McCaffery
From School Library Journal
Rich with lush greenery and expressive faces, Kastner's illustrations have the luminous quality of an impressionistic painting. This -Jackie Hechtkopf, Talent House School, Fairfax, VA
From Kirkus Reviews
Kastner's brilliantly colored oil paintings fill every page, pulling readers into the trip to experience nature's wonders.
The Lizard Man of Crabtree County by Lucy A. Nolan, Jill Kastner (Illustrator) Reading level: Ages 4-8 Edition: Hardcover, 32 pages ; Publisher: Marshall Cavendish Corp/Ccb; (October 1999) 
ISBN: 0761450491
Paperback: (April 2003) ISBN: 0761451447
Editorial Reviews
From Kirkus
This is terrific fun for story hours, with a droll text that is constantly rebutted by the pictures.
In November by Cynthia Rylant (Author), Jill Kastner (Illustrator) Reading level: Ages 4-8 Edition: School & Library Binding 32 pages ; Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books; (September 15, 2000)
ISBN: 0152010769
In November, the air grows cold and the earth and all of its creatures prepare for winter. Animals seek food and shelter. And people gather together to celebrate their blessings with family and friends.
Editorial Reviews
From Booklist Poetic language and lovely oil paintings evoke the traditional and seasonal activities that occur in November. ... Lauren Peterson Copyright American Library Association. All rights reserved
White Water by Jonathan London, Aaron London, Jill Kastner (Illustrator) Reading level: Ages 4-8 Edition: School & Library Binding, 32 pages ; Publisher: Viking Children's Books; (May 2001) 
ASIN: 0670892866
When a father brings his son on a white water rafting trip, he hopes his son will share his love of the river. Inspired by a real life experience, renowned writer and poet Jonathan London and his son Aaron perfectly convey the thrill of speeding over rapids, the joy of seeing wild horses, and the quiet pleasure of falling asleep under a billion stars after a great meal around the campfire.
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly Kastner's oil paintings capture a spectrum of color and action bright rafts and gear bobbing on the greenish river water, frothy spray and rough waves jumping like "thousands of white rabbits." The shifting light and resultant changing hues of the canyon walls and sky overhead create a sense of river travel likely to leave young readers eager to have a go of their own. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal The thrill of riding rapids is captured on double-page impressionistic oil paintings that accompany the simple narrative. For those who have never been on white water, this combination of text and illustration is a wonderful introduction. Diane Olivo-Posner, Long Beach Public Library, CA Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
My Busy Day by Jill Davis, Jill Kastner (Illustrator)
Reading level: Ages 4-8 Edition: School & Library Binding,
32 pages Publisher: Viking Children's Books; (September 2004)
ISBN: 0670058912
Have you ever noticed that toddlers and preschoolers have awfully busy lives? The appealing youngster in this bubbly and refreshing picture book describes her typical day--from waking up to bed time and all the times in between--in fun-to-read rhyming couplets. Kids will recognize each and every moment from their own busy lives in the warm, energetic paintings. A perfect read aloud for pre-schoolers that's also a satisfying wind-down for bedtime.
Editorial Reviews
From School Library Journal The sunny, mixed-media illustrations add pizzazz to an ordinary day. Colors are eye-popping bright with plenty of texture and lively patterns to create a visual feast. The double-page paintings have both the soft focus of pastels and the definition of pen and ink so that at times inanimate objects–a striped shirt, the dinosaur on a lunchbox, a flowered tablecloth–are more distinct than facial expressions. Young readers will make an easy connection to the many familiar sights and sounds in this breezy book.–Martha Topol, Traverse Area District Library, Traverse City, MI Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From Booklist ... Kastner's bright, appealing two-page spreads, filled with texture, movement, and splashes of bright color, energetically visualize family and school activities and sibling and classmate interactions. At book's end, the girl is cozily tucked in bed, with her parents looking on--a reassuring family portrait and a quiet finish to a busy picture-book day. Shelle Rosenfeld
Copyright American Library Association. All rights reserved
BOOKS AUTHORED/ILLUSTRATED
BY JILL KASTNER:
Princess Dinosaur by Jill Kastner (Author) Reading level: Ages 4-8 Edition: Hardcover, 32 pages; Publisher: Greenwillow; (April 10, 2001) 
ISBN: 0688170455
Princess Dinosaur is a born leader. Sometimes she is too much for Cowboy Gus and Blue Feather. But Bettina Esmerelda Louise loves to play dress-up with her, and all the toys are mesmerized by her storytelling.
Suddenly Spots bounds in and snaps up Princess Dinosaur in his jaws! Down the stairs and out of the house he dashes, with the Princess between his teeth. And then he drops her--in a hole.
What will Princess Dinosaur do? Can she dig her way out? Will she survive the wilds of the outdoors? Can she get back to her friends?
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly, The antics of this animated toy dino and her toy-chest compatriots lend themselves to some diverting visual scenarios. Kastner's illustrations depict the heroine with a range of funny facial expressions and exploit the scenarios comic potential.
From School Library Journal . The big, splashy, bright double-page spreads in pen and ink and watercolor are fun-filled and lively. An action-packed fantasy adventure. Patricia Pearl Dole, formerly at First Presbyterian School, Martinsville, VA Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Merry Christmas, Princess Dinosaur! by Jill Kastner (Author) Reading level: Ages 4-8 Edition: Hardcover, 32 pages; Publisher: Greenwillow; (October 1, 2002)
ISBN: 0060004711
There is absolutely, positively, definitely, and completely nothing quiet and peaceful about Christmas with Princess Dinosaur! But a merry, merry Christmas it most certainly will be!
Editorial Reviews
From School Library Journal Kids will enjoy revisiting the toy characters from Princess Dinosaur and will relate to both the protagonist's silly antics and to her worries about Santa finding the house and fitting through the chimney. An energetic light fantasy with splashy, bright art..-M. W. Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist ... very young children will respond to the vibrant, thickly brushed watercolor-and-pen illustrations. They'll also see themselves in Princess, who resembles a wildly energetic preschooler, dressed in a crown and a billowing skirt, giddy about Christmas, and adorable--despite her assorted claws and fangs. Gillian Engberg Copyright American Library Association. All rights reserved
Presentations
Jill Kastner conducts presentations on the process of creating children's picture books. The program includes:
A hands-on look at different steps of illustrating, printing and publishing: the early sketches and dummies with editorial notes, programs (four-color, separated proofs), f & g's (fold and gathers), and pre-cut sheets -- all which demonstrate the many steps of making a book.
Artist/group illustration exercise which helps students understand the process of creating a character and situation.
Slide show describing the various stages of artwork from acceptance of manuscript to completed book.
Question and answer session.
Programs are 45 minutes to one hour in length. Jill modifies each presentation according to the age range of the group.
Fee Schedule:
Full-day program: three to four presentations--$1000.
Half-day program: two presentations -- $500.
Contact
Jill Kastner
30 Liberty Place
Weehawken, NJ 07086
Phone (201) 865-5477
or mailto:jillkastner@optonline.net
Website http://jillkastner.com
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