contact him

Robert Casilla was born in Jersey City, New Jersey to parents from Puerto Rico. Like many children, Robert always loved to draw. As the new kid in his second grade class, he recalls doing a drawing of two birds with colored chalk on construction paper. His teacher noticed the drawing and then told the class, "We have an artist in the class!" Robert is thankful to her and all the teachers who motivated him and helped him realize he had talent as an artist. Although he grew up in New Jersey, he did get to attend school in Puerto Rico as a fourth grader.

His formal training in art took place at the School of Visual Arts in New York City where he earned a BFA degree.

Since 1984, Robert has worked as a freelance illustrator for magazines, book publishers, educational publishers and others. He has illustrated over 25 children's books, many of which are picture book biographies of people such as Martin Luther King, Jr., Jackie Robinson, Rosa Parks and John F. Kennedy. He has also illustrated many multicultural children's books such as Jalapeño Bagels (Atheneum), The Little Painter of Sabana Grande (Simon & Schuster), The Legend of Mexicatl (Turtle Books) and First Day in Grapes (Lee & Low), which won the Pura Belpré Honor Award.

Robert visits schools to talk about the visual journey a story takes him through to come up with the illustrations for his books. He also teaches art to young gifted students.

Robert lives and works from his home in New Fairfield, Connecticut, which he shares with his wife and two children, three cats and a feisty shih tzu dog.

List of awards and Honors

Complete bibliography

For more information, visit his websites:

www.robertcasilla.com
www.robcasillastudio.com

about us | newsletter & privacy policy | downloads | site map | search | testimonials | disclaimer

home | outreach | blog
©2001-2012 Papertigers: Books + Water