David Small first became inspired by painting while on a school field trip which featured the work of the Mexican artist Diego Rivera. He says, ‘Perhaps it was at that moment—standing before the great Rivera mural—that I determined to work at my talent for drawing and to become an artist.’

Mr. Small grew up in Detroit, studied art and English at Wayne State University and went on to complete graduate studies in art at Yale. After receiving his MFA degree, he taught at the State University of New York/Fredonia College, Kalamazoo College, and the University of Michigan.

Mr. Small is currently an author and illustrator of books for children as well as a freelance commercial artist. He has reviewed children’s books for The New York Times and was the final judge for the 1989 Parent’s Choice Awards for Illustration. His editorial drawings regularly appear in publications such as The New York Times, The New Yorker, GQ, and The Washington Post.

Mr. Small and his wife, author Sarah Stewart, share their historic home on a bend of the St. Joseph River live in Michigan with a dog named Simon and a cat, who’s in charge, named Otis. The children Ginny, Mark and L.D., flew out of the nest some time ago. The award-winning author/illustrator, wife/husband team has recently finished their fifth picture book together.