Devon Holzwarth is a picture book illustrator, author and painter. A Society of Illustrators gold medal winner, Devon is a recipient of the Schneider Family Book Award for Listen, How Evelyn Glennie, a Deaf Girl, Changed Percussion (written by Shannon Stocker, Dial, 2022), and a notable Sydney Taylor Award for Tia Fortuna’s New Home (written by Ruth Behar, Knopf, 2022). Her debut picture book as author-illustrator, Sophie's Stories (Scholastic UK / Alison Green) published in 2021. Devon works in mostly traditional materials including watercolor, ink, color pencil, and collage.
Devon had a magical childhood in Panama with the jungle as her backyard and parrots and iguanas as pets. Much of her work draws from the lush wildness of her first home. Devon earned her BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design in 2000 focusing on screen printing and illustration. She currently lives in Aachen, Germany, with her tinkering husband, two funny, creative kids and a hard of hearing hound dog.
Praise for Sand Cakes (Tundra Books, 2025):
"Cheery illustrations swirl across the pages, reinforcing the magic of creativity, while the variety of skin tones represented makes it easy for any reader to see themselves in this seaside setting." —Booklist
Praise for Birdlore (Knopf, 2025):
"An elegant tribute to Florence Merriam Bailey.... A high-toned and attractively illustrated profile." —Kirkus Reviews
Praise for A Flicker of Hope (Viking, 2024):
★ “Lyrical text and captivating illustrations create a truly compelling reading experience.... Magnificent and hopeful."—School Library Journal, starred review
Praise for Listen, How Evelyn Glennie, a Deaf Girl, Changed Percussion (Dial, 2022):
Schneider Family Book Award Winner, ALA Notable Children’s Book, Anna Dewdney Read Together Award Honor, Cybils Award Finalist, Bank Street Best Children’s Book of the Year, Crystal Kite Finalist
"Radiant." —Publishers Weekly
"Engaging text [and] vibrant illustrations, which effectively use color and pattern and movement to represent sound. An author’s note provides more information about this remarkable musician’s work." —The Horn Book
Praise for Tia Fortuna's New Home (Knopf, 2022):
★ "[A] beautiful story about heritage and hope… and remarkable in every way." —School Library Journal, starred review
