About this Artist

Pronouns: he/him

Timothy Young has had a long career doing all kinds of interesting and fun stuff. He’s been an animator, puppet maker, toy designer, sculptor, art director, and graphic designer. His career highlights include being an animation model-maker for Pee-Wee’s Playhouse, designing and building Muppets for Jim Henson Productions, and sculpting the first-ever Simpsons toys. He even invented a pool toy, the Chicken Fight Game. Tim is the author/illustrator of 13 picture books including Do Not Open The Box, The Angry Little Puffin, I’m Going To Outer Space!, and the highly acclaimed I Hate Picture Books! He has also illustrated books for other authors including Nancy Viau’s Just One Thing! He has visited schools all over the country and is happy to now be part of the Arts For Learning Maryland family. He lives with his family on the Eastern Shore of Maryland.

Artist Statement

When I was a kid I wondered who wrote and illustrated the books I read, who made the toys I played with and who made the cartoons I watched. I started out drawing the characters I liked. I loved making art but I was told by many grown-ups that I could not do that for a job, I’d have to do something else. Against the advice of my parents I went to Pratt Institute to study illustration. Soon after college I started working as an animation model maker, I then had the opportunity to design and sculpt toys. After a long, creative career I started writing and illustrating picture books. After my first books came out I started visiting schools and I discovered that I loved meeting kids who were just like me when I was their age. I love telling them about the things I’ve gotten to do and that they can also follow their dreams and passions and pursue doing the things that they love to do.