Liza Woodruff
children's book author & illustrator
School Visits
I have worked as an illustrator and author for almost thirty years. I have published twenty five books for children with clients such as McMillan, Simon and Schuster, Holiday House, Scholastic and Henry Holt. Two of my books have been included in the Bank Street School of Education's list of best books of the year.
Of course, I love working in my studio, but an extra-rewarding part of my job is visiting schools and libraries and interacting with children.
My visits include a visual presentation that covers my journey to becoming a children's book author and illustrator along with discussions about where ideas come from and how a story becomes a book.
Through talking about my own experiences, I hope to inspire kids to explore creatively through their own art and stories. I love to draw for and with kids to help bring our collaborative ideas to life.
I am available for in-person visits within the New England area and virtual visits almost anywhere there's connectivity.
Please email me to discuss details: liza@lizawoodruff.com
"Liza's school visit was an incredibly engaging and memorable experience for our students. From the moment she began, she captured everyone’s attention with her enthusiasm, creativity, and clear passion for storytelling and illustration.
Liza did a wonderful demonstration of how she creates her illustrations. She walked students through her process step by step, showing how ideas turn into sketches and then into finished artwork. Seeing this unfold in real time made the creative process feel accessible and exciting, and students were fascinated by the techniques she used.
What truly set this visit apart was the level of audience participation. Students were invited to contribute ideas and help shape parts of the illustration as it developed. This interactive approach kept everyone involved and made the experience feel personal and dynamic.
Overall, the visit was both inspiring and educational. Students left not only with a deeper appreciation for books and illustrations, but also with a sense that their own creative ideas matter. It was a wonderful experience that we would highly recommend."
-- Julie Altermose, Library/Media Teacher, Mary Hogan School, Middlebury, VT
"Liza Woodruff’s visit to our preschool was an absolute joy. She was engaging, gentle, and genuinely kind with the children, meeting them exactly where they were. Liza thoughtfully answered their many questions, shared pieces of her life and creative journey, and made each child feel seen and valued. She also guided the class through a wonderful, hands-on art project that sparked excitement and creativity for everyone involved. It was a meaningful and inspiring experience, and we would be delighted to welcome her back anytime."
-- Kaylie Flint, Executive Director, Heartworks Early Education, Shelbutne, VT
Working on our expressive monsters at Heartworks.
"Every story recipe needs certain ingredients. Liza visited our school with author & illustrator colleague Sarah Dillard, and they brought all the ingredients with them! Their interactive presentation titled "Let's Cook Up a Story" brought our K-2 students into the process, encouraging them to think about which ingredients to add to their very own story. It was a clever and engaging way for students to learn about the process of being an author and illustrator. It was also amazing for our students to see two professionals working with one another in real-time. It was obvious that a great deal of time, effort and care had gone into preparing for the visit in order for students to feel like THEY were in fact the most important ingredient. A visit from Liza comes with my highest recommendation"
--Heidi Huestis, Librarian, CharlotteCentral School, Charlotte, VT