Gina Bellisario
Gina Bellisario is the author of fiction and nonfiction books for young readers (and the grown-ups who read to them). She lives with her husband and their twin young readers in Park Ridge, Illinois.
Interview
What was your favorite book when you were a child?
My all-time, forever favorite—that has been since the moment I first turned its pages—is The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper. I love its simple message: try and triumph.
What’s your favorite line from a book?
“I think I can” from my favorite book! Reading this line was one of the greatest gifts I could have received as a child.
Who are your top three favorite authors or illustrators?
Shel Silverstein, Roald Dahl, Judy Blume
Why did you want to become an author or illustrator?
I was born with a REALLY active imagination. I believed unicorns were real, fairies were living in the backyard, etc. (To be honest, I still do.) When I learned how to spell, I put my thoughts into words and made stories. Doing so felt right…and wonderful.
Do you have any advice for future authors or illustrators?
For authors: believe in your ability to write! Think, “I think I can.” We tend to let our inner, grown-up critic stifle the child voice we draw from to create, but our can-do belief puts that critic in check.
