About author Elizabeth Verdick

Elizabeth Verdick is an award-winning children’s book author. Her series, Best Behavior, Toddler Tools, and Laugh and Learn have received numerous awards, including the Henry Bergh Award, Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Book, Gold Mom’s Choice Award, and iParenting Media Award Excellent Product.

In addition, Verdick has also published several bilingual book series: the Best Behavior Series; the Happy, Healthy Baby Series; the Laugh & Learn Series; and the Toddler Tools Series. Her newest picture book, Trusty Bus, is due out in 2025.

She earned her BA from Carleton College and her Master of Fine Arts in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Hamline University. She lives in Minnesota with her family.

Publications and awards

Wiggly Time, a board book by Elizabeth Verdick, graduate of Hamline's MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults (MFAC) program

Wiggly Time

Illustrated by Marieka Heilein (Board Book) Free Spirit Publishing, 2023

  • Book 18 in the Toddler Tools Series, which School Library Journal calls "perfectly attuned to the smallest readers."
Small Walt Spots Dot, a picture book by Elizabeth Verdic, alumni of Hamline's MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults (MFAC) program

Small Walt Spots Dot

Illustrated by Marc Rosenthal (Picture Book) Sion & Schuster, 2020

  • "Every young child deserves to know Small Walt." —Kirkus Reviews
Bike and Trike, a picture book by Hamline alum Elizabeth Verdick, graduate of Hamline's MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults (MFAC) program

Bike and Trike

Illustrated by Brian Biggs (Picture Book) Simon & Schuster, 2020

  • "Rhythmic, personality-laden text by Verdick (Small Walt) couples with dynamic anthropomorphic energy and emotion dexterously conveyed by Biggs (The Space Walk) to create an amusing friendship story that’s just right for reading aloud." —Publisher's Weekly
Small Walt and Mo the Tow, by Elizabeth Verdick, a graduate of Hamline's MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults (MFAC) program

Small Walt and Mo the Tow

Illustrated by Marc Rosenthal (Picture Book) Sion & Schuster, 2018

  • Kirkus Reviews Starred Review
  • "The characters are appealing, and the language is active and satisfying, with plenty of onomatopoeia." —The New York Times
Small Walt, a picture book by Hamline alum Elizabeth Verdick, graduate of the MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults (MFAC) program

Small Walt

Illustrated by Marc Rosenthal (Picture Book) Sion & Schuster, 2017

  • Kirkus Reviews Starred Review
  • "Charming and endearing" —Publisher's Weekly
Peep Leap, a picture book by Elizabeth Verdick, alumni of Hamline University's MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults (MFAC) program

Peep Leap

Illustrated by John Bendall-Brunello (Picture Book) Two Lions, 2013

  •  "Informative as well as enjoyable, this picture book offers children opportunities to join in during read-aloud sessions." —Booklist

How to stay up to date with Elizabeth Verdick

If you would like to stay up to date with Elizabeth Verdick's work and events, visit her website: https://www.elizabethverdick.com.