I grew up drawing, reading, and climbing trees near Detroit, Michigan. Many years later, I now do exactly the same thing in Columbia, Missouri.

Here I am in the 250 year-old white oak tree that once grew next to my studio. I looked up through the skylights at its branches, It was the tree of inspiration for my book, Bea Garcia: The Tree and Me.

I love putting words and pictures together to tell stories and have written and/or illustrated more than fifty books for younger readers. These include picture books, chapter books, drawing books, early readers, and humor books.

Publishers that I”ve worked with include Penguin/Dial Books, Creston Books, Blue Apple Books, Ranger Rick magazine, Dutton Children’s Books, Grosset & Dunlap, Handprint Books, Houghton Mifflin, Andrews McMeel, Scholastic/Children’s Press, Sterling Publishing, and Workman Publishing.

Some of my pictures are made with gouache paint on paper, and some are made with digital pixels. All are made with enthusiasm.

I love to talk with kids and older humans about writing, drawing, and making books. For more information, check out School visits.

For all inquiries, please email me at deborah.zemke@gmail.com.

¡Gracias!