| Birth Date: | 19 March 1970 |
| Birth Place: | Staten Island, New York |
| Occupation: | Author, Illustrator, Storyteller |
| Alma Mater: | Pratt Institute |
| Genre: | Children's Books |
Steve Light (born March 19, 1970) is an American author, storyteller, and illustrator of children's books. Born in Staten Island, New York, he graduated from the Pratt Institute and then studied with David J. Passalcqua. Light started storytelling while teaching at West Side Montessori in Manhattan.[1] At that time, he developed his own storytelling device he calls “storyboxes”. “Steve Light’s Storyboxes” debuted at the New York Toy Fair in February 2012 by Guidecraft toys.[2] Light published his first book Abrams Publishing Puss in Boots (2002)[3] and The Shoemaker Extraordinaire (2002).
Upon graduating from the Pratt Institute, Light worked as an illustrator in the corporate world. He created illustrations for companies such as AT&T, Sony Films, Absolut Vodka, and the New York Times Book Review. Light has also designed buttons that were acquired by the Cooper-Hewitt Design Museum.[4] He went on to create “Press out and Play” books, a unique building book. Two Hello Kitty and one Uncle Sam books were produced under the “Press out and Play” line.
In 2003, Light made a Touch-and-Feel book of feelings titled I Am Happy, published by Candlewick Press.
Light took a break from children’s books to produce his own children’s TV show pilot, “Storytime with Steve Light”. When Light returned to publishing, he wrote and illustrated Trucks Go with Chronicle Books in 2008[5] followed by Trains Go in 2012.
Light then returned to Candlewick Press to write and illustrate The Christmas Giant[6] which received a Publishers Weekly starred review.[7] His book Zephyr Takes Flight in October 2012 was also published by Candlewick Press.
Light designed the opening titles for Arian Moayed’s short independent film Overdue.
Light lives in Manhattan with his wife and cat, and when he is not writing or illustrating books, he is teaching at Temple Shaaray Tefilla Nursery school in New York City. Light has told stories from his books and storyboxes in the Milwaukee Art Museum, as well as many libraries and schools in the Tri-State Area. Most of his ideas come from his drawings, which he enjoys making daily.[8] Light loves to draw mostly with fountain pens; he loves sharing his passion for these vintage drawing tools with children and adults alike.