About Illustrator Jan Brett

Jan Brett was born on December 1, 1949 in Hingham, Massachusetts. Brett began her higher education by attending Colby Junior College from 1968-1969, and later the Boston Museum of Fine Arts School in 1970. As a student at the Boston Museum School, she spent hours in the Museum of Fine Arts. Brett currently resides in the seacoast town of Norwell, Massachusetts, a historic area on the South Shore, but spends her summers in the mountains where she completes much of her work on her books. Not only does she write her own books, but she also adopts and illustrates folktales. It takes approximately one year for her to complete a single book.

JanBrett loved to draw when she was a child. By the time she was six years old, she was determined to be a children's book illustrator. As a child, she was extremely shy, and thus found drawing a way to express herself. Her very first publication in which she wrote and illustrated the piece was "Fritz and the Beautiful Horses" in 1981. As with many of her pieces, this book was inspired by her love for animals and pets during her childhood. Animals are an inspiration in many of Brett's picture books and most of her books are set within nature. Jan Brett also inspiration for her books from old folktales. Travel is also a constant inspiration. Together with her husband, Joe Hearne, who is a member of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Jan visits many different countries where she researches the architecture and costumes that appear in her work. "From cave paintings to Norwegian sleighs, to Japanese gardens, I study the traditions of the many countries I visit and use them as a starting point for my children's books." Although many emotions are embodied within her books, there remains a constant message of hope.