Lane smith author biography graphic organizer

American illustrator and writer (born 1959)

This article is about the children's book illustrator. For the American actor, see Lane Smith.

Lane Smith (born August 25, 1959) is an American illustrator and writer of children's books.

He is the Kate Greenaway medalist (2017) known for his eclectic visuals and subject matter, both humorous and earnest, such as the contemplative Grandpa Green, which received a Caldecott Honor in 2012, and the outlandish Stinky Cheese Man, which received a Caldecott Honor in 1992.

Background

Smith was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, but moved to Corona, California at a young age.^[1] He spent summers in Tulsa and cites experiences traveling there via Route 66 as inspirations for his work, which combines highbrow and lowbrow elements.

He studied at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, at the encouragement of his high-school art teacher, Dan Baughman, helping to pay for it by working as a