Rebecca E. Hirsch

Rebecca E. Hirsch is an award- winning children’s author with a PhD in plant biology. Her picture books include Plants Can’t Sit Still and Night Creatures: Animals That Swoop, Crawl, and Creep while You Sleep. She lives with her husband and three children in State College, Pennsylvania. You can visit her online at rebeccahirsch.com.

Interview

What was your favorite book when you were a child?

One book that stands out is Jennifer, Hecate, Macbeth, William McKinley, and Me, Elizabeth by E. L. Konigsburg. I also loved Nancy Drew and the Little House on the Prairie series. I also read every Beverly Cleary and Judy Blume book I could get my hands on.

What’s your favorite line from a book?

This line always makes me smile: “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.”

Who are your top three favorite authors or illustrators?

Jane Austen and J.K. Rowling are two favorites. And Dr. Seuss is a delight.

Why did you want to become an author or illustrator?

I grew up climbing trees and splashing in streams, so nature has always been a big part of my life. Writing gives me a way to share my love of science and nature with children.

Do you have any advice for future authors or illustrators?

Read a lot. Write a lot. Every so often, take a break from all that reading and writing and go do something. Visit your grandmother. Go on an adventure with a friend. Then come back and read and write some more.