Chris Gall

has been drawing pictures and writing stories for as long as he can remember. When he was caught drawing pictures on his desk in second grade, his teacher made him clean all the desks in the classroom. She suggested that he might be an artist someday. He won a Read Magazine Young Writer's Award in 7th grade, and that inspired him to write stories to go with his art. In college he decided to become an illustrator for a living and he has been creating artwork ever since. His artwork has been seen in almost every publication in America, including Time, Newsweek, People, Fortune, The New York Times, and the Washington Post. He has won over 50 major awards from such organizations as Communication Arts Magazine and the Society of Illustrators. He has been an adjunct professor of art at the University of Arizona, he loves to restore classic cars, he pilots all kinds of airplanes, and he even spent 4 years as a professional stand-up comedian.

Awards

Kirkus Best Children's Book list for 2008 (There's Nothing To Do On Mars)
Borders Original Voices nominee 2006 (Dear Fish)
Publisher's Weekly Best Children's Book list 2004 (America the Beautiful)
Communication Arts Magazine -- Multiple Awards of Excellence, almost every year since 1988
Print Magazine Design Annual Awards (multiple)
Art Directors Club of New York Award of Merit (multiple)
Society of Illustrators -- An exhibitor in the prestigious annual show almost every year since 1987
Society of Newspaper Design Award of Excellence
1999 Horizons of Flight juried Aviation Art Exhibition
Spectrum Fantastic Art Annual (multiple)

Published Books

America the Beautiful (2004, Little, Brown ISBN 0-316-73743-7). A critically acclaimed homage to our nation's most revered hymn. Chris is the great grand-nephew of Katharine Lee Bates, the poem's author. A Publisher's Weekly Best Children's Book of 2004.

Dear Fish (2006, Little, Brown ISBN 0-316-05847-5). When young Peter Alan invites all the fish in the sea to come visit him someday, they arrive in unexpected and hilarious ways. A 2006 Borders Original Voices Children's Picture Book finalist, 2008 Grand Canyon Reader Award nominee, and a Child Magazine best pick of 2006.

There's Nothing To Do On Mars (2008, Little, Brown ISBN 0-316-16684-7). When Davey Martin and his family move to Mars unexpectedly, Davey and his robotic dog must set out to find something to do. His enthusiasm leads to the discovery of Mars' oldest secret. A Kirkus Best Children's Book for 2008.

Dinotrux (Spring 2009, Little, Brown ISBN 0-316-02777-9). Millions of years ago, the earth is ruled by the primitive ancestors to today's modern trucks. Crack, munch, look out caveman, or you'll be lunch!