Her picture books, A Bird About to Sing, Sweet Tooth, and One Stuck Drawer, all published by Houghton Mifflin Company, have won Parent’s Choice Awards and A Bird About to Sing was featured on Reading Rainbow.

Montenegro says, “As a creator of books for children, my goal has been to make beautiful visual art that is intimately related to a simple and very human story. With each picture book, I have tried to come closer to a more complete expression of the human experience. As a teacher, my hope for each of my students is that they will discover their own personal expression through their own unique blend of word and image, and that they, too, will fall in love with this fascinating art form.”

Presentations for Adults
The Intuitive Suitcase
Students will participate in the entire process of picture book creation from tiny story seed to published book. We will focus on the shaping of the book dummy, which, for a writer/illustrator, generates some of the most exciting moments in the creation of a picture book. Through guided exercises, we will create our own picture book story combining poetic narrative with visual imagery. A lively, hands-on introduction to the picture book art form.

Presentations for Children
A Puppet Reflection on the World of Picture Book Making
Playful and quirky, A Puppet Reflection is an intriguing use of imaginative puppetry that dramatizes the intricacies of the art of picture book making.
We’ll explore the picture book maker’s craft through visual artifacts; book dummies, paintings, and storyboards. Culminates in an exciting, interactive, group experience - the creation of an illustrated picture book story.

Contact Information:
Email:lauramontenegro@sbcglobal.net