Bethany Barton is an author and illustrator of children's books, as well as an Emmy-nominated Propmaster for film & TV. Barton's books combine colorful illustrations, humor, science communication and storytelling to make

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-related topics enjoyable for kids. Barton's 2015 book ''I’m Trying To Love Spiders'' (Viking/Penguin) garnered numerous awards and starred reviews, including the 2016 Children's Choice Award 3rd/4th Grade Book of The Year. Her 2017 book ''Give Bees A Chance'' (Viking/Penguin) was a 2017 SCIBA Award finalist, was listed in Scripps National Spelling Bee “Great Words, Great Works,” and was featured in the New York Times. Her books have been translated into four languages. Her 2019 book, ''I'm Trying to Love Math'', was named an Amazon Best Book of 2019 and ''I'm Trying To Love Rocks'' (Viking/Penguin), hit stores in June 2020 with starred reviews ''I'm Trying To Love Germs'' (Viking/Penguin) was published in November of 2023 with

School Library Journal ''School Library Journal'' (''SLJ'') is an American monthly magazine containing reviews and other articles for school librarians, media specialists, and public librarians who work with young people. Articles cover a wide variety of topics, with ...

calling it "a first purchase for any collection" in a starred review. As well as illustrating her own stories, Barton has illustrated for other authors, including Todd Hasak-Lowy's middle grade novel ''33 Minutes'' (Simon & Schuster). She often spends several weeks of the year touring; doing school visits, speaking to authors and educators, and sharing her stories and creativity with young readers at schools and libraries across the globe. Bethany Barton on The Muppets set in 2015

Bethany Barton on The Muppets set in 2015

Bethany Barton also has a busy career in the art, prop, and set decoration departments for film & TV. In 2023, she was nominated for a Children's & Family Emmy in the category of Puppet Design & Styling for her work on

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. Notable projects include

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Network's ''

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,'' '' The Middle, Westworld,

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and ` black-ish,'' as well as movies like ''Bumblebee'', and countless commercials. '' '' She is represented by Writers House LLC. In 2023, Bethany became a co-founder of the non-profit DopaMind, an organization created to "help young people navigate tech in the digital age."

Books

*''I'm Trying To Love Germs, 2023, Viking/Penguin'' *''I'm Trying To Love Garbage, 2021, Viking/Penguin'' *''I'm Trying To Love Rocks'', 2020, Viking/Penguin *''I'm Trying To Love Math'', 2019, Viking/Penguin *''Give Bees A Chance'', 2017, Viking/Penguin *''I'm Trying To Love Spiders'', 2015, Viking/Penguin *''33 Minutes'', 2013, by Todd Hasak-Lowy, illust. Bethany Barton, *''This Monster Needs A Haircut'', 2012, Dial Books For Young Readers (

Penguin Penguins (order (biology), order List of Sphenisciformes by population, Sphenisciformes , family (biology), family Spheniscidae ) are a group of Water bird, aquatic flightless birds. They live almost exclusively in the Southern Hemisphere: on ...

), * ''This Monster Cannot Wait'', 2013, Dial Books For Young Readers (Penguin),

Awards

* 2016 Children's Choice Awards 3rd/4th Grade Book of the Year * 2017 Beehive Book Award (Children's Literature Association of Utah) * 2016-2017 Black-Eyed Susan Book Award (Maryland Association of School Librarians) * 2017 Kentucky Bluegrass Award (Kentucky Association of School Librarians) * 2018 Surrey Schools Narrative Non-Fiction Book of The Year (British Columbia) * Amazon Best Book of 2020 * 2022 Oregon State Literacy Association’s Patricia Gallagher Children’s Choice Book Award

Nominations

* 2017 SCIBA (Southern California Independent Booksellers Association) Book Award Finalist * 2017-2018 South Carolina Picture Book Award * 2016-2017 Charter Oak Children's Book Award * 2017 Washington Children's Choice Picture Book Award * 2017-2018 North Carolina Children's Book Award * 2017-2018 Show Me Readers Award (Missouri Association of School Librarians) * 2018 Monarch Award (Illinois School Library Media Association) * 2018 Garden State Book Award * 2019 Beehive Book Award (Children's Literature Association of Utah) * 2021 Beehive Informational Book Awards (Children's Literature Association of Utah) * 2022 Magnolia Book Award (Mississippi Children's Museum) * 2023 North Carolina Children's Book Award

References

External links

*
Official Children's Book SiteWriters House PortfolioBook Trailer for ''This Monster Needs A Haircut''
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Barton, Bethany 1982 births Living people American women illustrators American children's book illustrators Date of birth missing (living people) Artists from Chicago