Biographical Information

Mo WillemsFebruary 11, 1968 - American author, illustrator, and animatorMo Willems was raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. While in high school, he created a comic strip for a weekly real estate newspaper and performed stand-up at a comedy club. Willems attended NYU's Tisch School for the Arts and graduated cum laude in 1990. After graduation and traveling abroad, he began his career working many odd jobs. While working one of these jobs, he auditioned and was hired as a writer and animator for Sesame Street from 1993-2002 where he received six Emmy Awards. He was best known for his "Suzie Kabloozie" segments. During this time, Willems created The Off-Beats for Nickelodeon and Sheep in the Big City on Cartoon Network. He also served as head writer for the animated series Code Name: Kids Next Door. Willems's early influences on his work include Charles Schulz and Saul Steinberg. Both of these artists' simplicity of style, humor, and melancholy inspired Willems in his own work. In 2003, Willems's first book, Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! was released. This first book was a huge success and he received acclaim through many reviews including the New York Times. It won honors and awards such as a Booklist Editor's Choice, a Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books Blue Ribbon Title, an ALA Notable Children's Book, and a Caldecott Honor Book award. Willems's success has continued over the years with many new books translated into many languages, audiobooks, animated shorts, television programs, films, and works of art. Willems is married to Cheryl Camp, has one daughter, Anna Beatrix Willems, and they currently reside in North Hampton, Massachusetts.