"Never abandon imagination"

“Imagination is a world of possibility that exists within each of us. It is what makes us uniquely human. It is our creative fingerprint that touches and influences the world around us. Imagination is essential to art and science; to innovation and prosperity. It gives us hope, calls us to action and leads to change.

 

Tony DiTerlizzi is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and illustrator who has been enchanting readers for over 25 years with his richly imagined stories and distinctive artwork. From whimsical picture books like The Spider & The Fly—a Caldecott Honor winner—to timeless tales like Kenny & The Dragon, DiTerlizzi’s work blends classic charm with boundless creativity.

 

He is the co-creator of The Spiderwick Chronicles, the acclaimed middle-grade fantasy series developed with Holly Black, which has sold over 20 million copies worldwide. The series inspired a major motion picture and was recently reimagined as an Emmy Award-winning television series for the Roku Channel. His bestselling science-fiction trilogy, WondLa, has also made the leap to the screen, adapted by Skydance Animation and now streaming on Apple TV+.

 

Before his career in children’s literature, DiTerlizzi was a pioneering artist for Dungeons & Dragons, where he helped define the iconic visual style of the Planescape game setting. His vivid storytelling has also extended to a retelling of the Star Wars saga for Lucasfilm and a bestselling collaboration with Mo Willems on The Story of Diva & Flea.

 

In 2018, the Norman Rockwell Museum honored his career with a record-breaking retrospective exhibition, Never Abandon Imagination. DiTerlizzi’s work has been spotlighted by Time, USA Today, CNN, PBS, NPR, the BBC, and The Today Show.