Gina Capaldi
When Gina Capaldi was ten years old she wrote a letter to Norman Rockwell telling him she loved his work and when she grew up wanted to be an illustrator, too! Mr. Rockwell wrote back to Gina and this very letter sits near her drafting table- forever encouraging and uplifting her.
Gina has both written and illustrated books and products for trade, historical non fiction, educational, and the toy industry. She often combines traditional painting techniques and mediums with collage and/or digital elements to add additional layer of visual story telling.
Her adherence to comprehensive research in historical nonfiction has garnered Gina book's major awards including Carter G. Woodson Award, National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS); Gold Medal Moon Beam Award-Independent Publisher; Eureka! California Reading Association Amelia Bloomer Book List-American Library Association (ALA); California Reading Association Booklist, Orbis Pictus/National Council of Teachers; and, Bank Street College, 'The Best Children's Books of the Year.
Some of Gina's clients include: Lerner Publishing, Boyds Mills Press, Hey Day Press, Concordia Press, Innovative Kids, Ascension Press, Apples and Honey Press, Harcourt Educational, Pearson Learning, Quarsan, and more.
Gina studied fine arts at Pepperdine University and Pitzer College; and illustration at Art Center: College of Design. She is an active member of the Society of Children's Book Writer's & Illustrators.