Lita Judge

Lita Judge is an author-illustrator of 30 nonfiction and fiction books. She grew up with her ornithologist grandparents who shared their home with eagles, owls, and other wild animals. Caring for wild things sparked an imagination to draw whimsical characters that retain their inner animal truths. She also studied geology and worked briefly as a paleontologist. Though she left the profession to begin a career in art, her curiosity for the natural world still fuels her desire to write and illustrate books about animals, science, and nature.  

Lita loves to travel in Europe with a sketchbook, dreaming up whimsical stories in fantastical settings. Awards for her books include the International Reading Association Children’s Book Award, an ALA Notable, NCTE Notable Book, a Kirkus Best Book, and the Jane Addams Honor. Mary’s Monster an illustrated novel in verse Mary Shelley, author of Frankenstein, received nominations for the Carnegie and Kate Greenaway medal. Flight School has even been adapted into an off-Broadway musical! Lita lives in the New Hampshire woods with her husband, three cats, a parrot, and mouse.