1. Lois Ehlert

2. Grew up in a family “always doing things”

3. Background Grew up in Wisconsin Used wood, wire, nails, colorful bits of fabric as child Made collages at treasured card table, her art spot for supplies and works in progress Graduated Layton School of Art in Milwaukee

4. More on Lois Ehlert Worked as graphic designer Books are carefully designed cover to cover Won the Caldecott in 1990 for Color Zoo

5. Inspiration Inspired by nature and gardening

6. Mixed Media Collage: Uses scissors, paper, rubber cement, wire, thread, textiles, and found objects Uses Photography

7. Mixed Media Paints her own paper: Feathers for Lunch

8. Unusual Materials Leafman Snowballs Market Day

9. Composition Double Page Spreads are common as in Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf

10. Composition Carefully balanced text with illustrations as in Top Cat Asymmetrical balance

11. Shapes Curved and repeating shapes in Planting a Rainbow…

12. Shapes Shapes repeated as in Wag a Tail

13. Unique Book Shapes

14. Color Use of many hues as shown in Planting a Rainbow

15. Color Bold, complementary colors in Fish Eyes Warm, analogous colors in Waiting for Wings

16. Texture Texture in Top Cat & Pie in the Sky

17. Technique Conducts research for accurate depictions

18. Intricate Page Cuts Fish have cut out eyes in counting book Fish Eyes

19. Interactive Features Recipes, Charts, Directions for Crafts, Paper Cuts, Invitations to create

20. Lois Ehlert: Advice Provide children with a designated spot for creating art without having to clear away works in progress. Create art with anything you can find Have art supplies ready for when inspiration strikes