John Stadler,
Award-Winning Author, Illustrator & New Hampshire Resident

After graduating from college, John Stadler attended law school for "about half an hour." Quickly realizing that the courtroom was not for him, John took a position with a publishing company in New York City. There, inspired by the children's books that came through the office, he decided to write his own. His first book, The Cat at Bat, received high praise upon publication, and in this way, a talented author/illustrator was born.

A little more than a decade ago, John moved from New York to New Hampshire to devote himself full-time to writing children's books. He currently lives in Lyme with his wife, Nomi, also a writer, in the house they built together. He enjoys receiving correspondence from his young readers and notes that he is highly impressed with the quality of the drawings and paintings they send him.

John studied art and illustration in Europe. To complete the illustrations in his books, John uses a time-consuming layered watercolor technique that results in beautifully vivid, highly detailed images admired by children and adults alike. Two of his books, Hooray for Snail and The Adventures of Snail at School, have been adopted for use in school curricula.

John Stadler researched hundreds of different types of cats in preparation for his elaborate illustrations. The result: a wonderful book for young children. Kirkus Reviews calls The Cats of Mrs. Calamari, "Absolutely inspired silliness," while Booklist writes, "This [book] has everything going for it: true humor, adorable (and expertly executed) artwork, and a story that hangs together from beginning to end. The cat's meow!" The Cats of Mrs. Calamari also has received a Booklist Editor's Choice Award.