Bates, Amy June

Personal

Born in UT; married; husband's name Alex; children: Evan. Education: Brigham Young University, B.A. (illustration).

Addresses

Home—Ann Arbor, MI. Agent—Shannon Associate, 630 9th Ave., New York, NY 10036.

Career

Illustrator.

Awards, Honors

Georgia Children's Book Awards nomination, 2007, for Speak to Me: (And I Will Listen between the Lines) by Karen English.

Writings

ILLUSTRATOR

Karen English, Speak to Me: (And I Will Listen between the Lines), Farrar, Straus & Giroux (New York, NY), 2004.

Ann Turner, Pumpkin Cat, Hyperion Books for Children (New York, NY), 2004.

Deborah Hopkinson, Susan B. Anthony: Fighter for Women's Rights, Farrar, Straus & Giroux (New York, NY), 2005.

Colby Rodowsky, The Next-Door Dogs, Farrar, Straus & Giroux (New York, NY), 2005.

Karma Wilson, I Will Rejoice: Celebrating Psalm 118, Zonderkidz (Grand Rapids, MI), 2006.

Karma Wilson, Give Thanks to the Lord: Celebrating Psalm 92, Zonderkidz (Grand Rapids, MI), 2007.

Kelly Tinkham, Hair for Mama, Dial Books for Young Readers (New York, NY), 2007.

Tony Dungy, You Can Do It, Little Simon Inspirations (New York, NY), 2008.

Monalisa DeGross, Donavan's Double Trouble, Amistad (New York, NY), 2008.

Karma Wilson, Let's Make a Joyful Noise!: A Celebration of Psalm 100, Zonderkidz (Grand Rapids, MI), 2008.

Bebe Moore Campbell, I Get So Hungry, G.P. Putnam's Sons (New York, NY), 2008.

Jane Kurtz, Martin's Dream, Simon & Schuster (New York, NY), 2008.

"ILLUSTRATOR; "BERYL E. BEAN" SERIES

Ricki Stern and Heidi P. Worcester, Expedition Sleepaway Camp, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 2002.

Ricki Stern and Heidi P. Worcester, Mighty Adventurer of the Planet, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 2002.

Ricki Stern and Heidi P. Worcester, Mission—Impossible Friendship, HarperTrophy (New York, NY), 2002.

Ricki Stern and Heidi P. Worcester, Adventure—Lonely Leader, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 2003.

ILLUSTRATOR; "ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER" SERIES; BASED ON THE NOVEL BY MARK TWAIN

Catherine Nichols, adaptor, The Best Fence Painter, Barnes & Noble (New York, NY), 2004.

Catherine Nichols, adaptor, A Song for Aunt Polly, Barnes & Noble (New York, NY), 2004.

Catherine Nichols, adaptor, The Birthday Boy, Sterling Pub. Co. (New York, NY), 2006.

Catherine Nichols, adaptor, The Spelling Bee, Sterling Pub. Co. (New York, NY), 2007.

Sidelights

A freelance illustrator, Amy June Bates began her career by creating illustrations for an educational publisher. Expanding to picture books, Bates has collaborated with a variety of writers, creating engaging pencil-and-watercolor artwork for books such as Pumpkin Cat by Ann Turner, The Next-Door-Dogs by Colby Rodowsky, and Speak to Me: (And I Will Listen between the Lines) by Karen English. In addition, her work is known to fans of the "Beryl E. Bean" series by Ricki Stern and Heidi P. Worcester, which follow the adventures of a sports-minded ten-year-old girl who takes setbacks in stride. "Bates' warm, realistic watercolors … create strong character portraits" that reflect the free-verse poems collected in Speak to Me, according to Booklist critic Gillian Engberg. Lee Bock had a similar reaction to the illustrator's picture-book debut, writing in School Library Journal that the artist's "watercolor-and-ink illustrations capture the characters' expressions and moods vividly," while a Kirkus Reviews writer cited her artwork for "capturing every mood, every feeling, and breath[ing] … life into each distinct personality" in English's text.

In a review of Bates' work for The Next-Door Dogs, a story about a nine year old's efforts to get over her fear of dogs, a Kirkus Reviews writer commented that "lively illustrations punctuate [Rodowsky's] … heartwarming tale of overcoming fears, becoming independent and facing personal challenges." In illustrating Pumpkin Cat, Bates supplies "cheery watercolor illustrations [that] work well with the straightforward narrative," according to School Library Journal reviewer Catherine Threadgill, while a Kirkus Reviews critic maintained of Turner's book that the "real selling point … is Bates's realistic, golden-hued watercolors." A poignant story by Kelly A. Tinkham about a woman whose supportive

family helps her deal with a difficult illness, Hair for Mama also benefits from Bates' art, according to several critics. Her "watercolor-and-pencil illustrations in warm hues capture the heart of this uplifting story," wrote Robin Smith in a review of Hair for Mama in Horn Book, while School Library Journal critic Judith Constantinides noted that Bates' "lovely watercolor illustrations fit the text well, using gold, brown, orange, and green tones to show a family going through tough times together."

The artist's collaboration with writer Karma Wilson resulted in Give Thanks to the Lord: Celebrating Psalm 92, Let's Make a Joyful Noise: A Celebration of Psalm 100, and and I Will Rejoice: Celebrating Psalm 118. "Exuberant watercolor illustrations in glowing, autumnal hues are the most striking feature" of Give Thanks to the Lord, stated a Kirkus Reviews writer in assessing Bates' contribution to the collaboration. The work was also praised as an "affectionate" portrait of childhood that features "expressive watercolor-and-pencil artwork … done in a warm, bright palette" by Booklist critic Shelle Rosenfeld. In Publishers Weekly, a critic noted that Bates sets I Will Rejoice in "comforting, contemporary, universal situations that many children will recognize." Let's Make a Joyful Noise was described by Booklist contributor Carolyn Phelan as "a rewarding read-aloud" that "captures the spirit of Psalm 100 and interprets it gracefully in a modern setting."

Biographical and Critical Sources

PERIODICALS

Booklist, August, 2004, Gillian Engberg, review of Speak to Me: (And I Will Listen between the Lines), p. 1933, and Ilene Cooper, review of Pumpkin Cat, p. 1946; March 1, 2005, Stephanie Zvirin, review of The Next-Door Dogs, p. 1199; February 1, 2006, Ilene Cooper, review of Susan B. Anthony: Fighter for Women's Rights, p. 52; October 1, 2006, Gillian Engberg, review of I Will Rejoice: Celebrating Psalm 118, p. 66; April 1, 2007, GraceAnne A. DeCandido, review of Hair for Mama, p. 61; October 1, 2007, Shelle Rosenfeld, review of Give Thanks to the Lord: Celebrating Psalm 92, p. 71; November 15, 2007, Carolyn Phelan, review of Let's Make a Joyful Noise!: A Celebration of Psalm 100, p. 45.

Horn Book, July-August, 2005, Martha V. Parravano, review of The Next-Door Dogs, p. 479; July-August, 2007, Robin Smith, review of Hair for Mama, p. 387.

Kirkus Reviews, July 1, 2004, reviews of Speak to Me, p. 628, and Pumpkin Cat, p. 639; April 15, 2005, Colby Rodowsky, review of The Next-Door Dogs, p. 480; August 15, 2007, review of Give Thanks to the Lord.

Publishers Weekly, June 17, 2002, review of Mighty Adventurer of the Planet, p. 64; December 18, 2006, review of I Will Rejoice, p. 66.

School Library Journal, August, 2004, Lee Bock, review of Speak to Me, p. 86, and Catherine Threadgill, review of Pumpkin Cat, p. 97; June, 2005, Jennifer Cogan, review of The Next-Door Dogs, p. 126; July, 2007, Judith Constantinides, review of Hair for Mama, p. 86.

ONLINE

Amy June Bates Home Page,http://www.amybates.com (April 10, 2008).