Robert Casilla

Robert Casilla was born in Jersey City, New Jersey to parents from Puerto Rico. His formal training in art took place at the School of Visual Arts in New York City where he earned a BFA degree. Since 1984, Robert has worked as a freelance illustrator for magazines, book publishers, postage stamps, educational publishers and others. He has illustrated over 30 children's books, many of which are picture book biographies of people such as Martin Luther King, Jr., Jackie Robinson, Rosa Parks and John F. Kennedy. He has also illustrated many multicultural children's books such as Jalapeno Bagels, The Little Painter of Sabana Grande, The Legend of Mexicatl and First Day in Grapes which won the Pura Belpré Honor Award. Robert lives and works from his home in New Fairfield, Connecticut with his wife and two children.