Eric A. Kimmel
Eric A. Kimmel is the author of the beloved holiday classics Hanukkah Bear and Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins as well as the popular Scarlett and Sam series. His books have received numerous national and state awards including the 1990 Caldecott Honor Medal, the Sydney Taylor Lifetime Achievement Award, and most recently the Regina Medal, awarded by the Catholic Library Association for his body of work.
Interview
What was your favorite book when you were a child?
Grimm’s Fairy Tales, and Treasure Island.
What’s your favorite line from a book?
“One more step, Mr. Hands, and I’ll blow your brains out. Dead men don’t bite, you know.” (Treasure Island)
Who are your top three favorite authors or illustrators?
Authors: Robert Louis Stevenson, Rudyard Kipling, Grimm Brothers. Illustrators: Trina Schart Hyman, Leonard Everett Fisher, Ivan Bilibin
Why did you want to become an author or illustrator?
No other career ever seemed as exciting or as interesting. I felt that way 60 years ago and I still feel that way today.
Do you have any advice for future authors or illustrators?
Persistence is what counts, not talent.
