Dan Yaccarino

Dan Yaccarino (born May 20, 1965) is an American author, illustrator and television producer known for his animated television series, children’s books and award-winning imagery.

Growing up with no children’s books in his home in Montclair, NJ, Yaccarino was influenced by a combination of advertising, package design, comic books, vintage animation, toys and old films. “I’m not really inspired by other children’s book authors and illustrators,” Yaccarino was quoted in saying. “But rather people from other fields. I’d much rather meet the director Henry Selick, singer-song writer Brian Wilson, or the Dalai Lama.”

Yaccarino has written and illustrated dozens of books for children, most notably Every Friday, The Fantastic Undersea Life of Jacques Cousteau, Unlovable and the autobiographical, "All the Way To America: The Story of A Big Italian Family and A Little Shovel. He has worked with some of the most prestigious names in children’s literature, including Margaret Wise Brown, Jack Prelutsky, Kevin Henkes, and Naomi Shihab Nye. Yaccarino’s work in children’s literature has garnered many glowing reviews and a worldwide following. He has been invited to the White House to share his books and participate in the annual Easter festivities.

Yaccarino is the creator and producer of the Nick Jr. animated series Oswald, notable for its gentle stories and surreal universe. Oswald, a gentle blue octopus, lives in a whimsical world with his best friends, a hot dog named Weenie, a fussy penguin named Henry and an energetic flower named Daisy. The series received the Cartoons On the Bay Pulcinella Award as well as the Parents' Choice Award. Time magazine chose Oswald as one of the top six shows to watch on cable. He also voiced Freddy the Teddy Bear.

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