JAN SPIVEY GILCHRIST
Writer & Illustrator

BIOGRAPHY I BOOKS I PRESENTATIONS I BOOK ORDERING

Jan Spivey Gilchrist's career as a fine artist has spanned a quarter

of a century. She has exhibited

extensively throughout the United

States, Canada, Europe and the

Caribbean. Ms. Gilchrist has won

numerous awards and

commissions throughout her

career, including the Coretta

Scott King Award for Nathaniel

Talking, and a Coretta Scott

King Honor Book for Night on

Neighborhood Street. This

book is also a Reading Rainbow

Book. Ms. Gilchrist is also the

author of two picture books,

Indigo and Moonlight Gold, and

Madelia. Indigo and Moonlight

Gold is treasured by many for its

sensitive and moving text, as

well as the striking illustrations,

and Madelia is a beautifully

illustrated story of an artistic

young girl.

Ms. Gilchrist has illustrated many of Eloise Greenfield's books, including several award winners. In the Land of Words was named a 2005 Notable Children's Book in the Language Arts (Children's Literature Assembly/NCTE).   When the Horses Ride By and The Friendly Four were chosen for the CCBC's (Cooperative Children's Book Center's) 2007 Choices. The Friendly Four was included on the 2007 Texas 2x2 Reading List for ages 2 to grades 2.


Ms. Gilchrist's works have appeared on national television. Her illustrations have been featured or reviewed in the New York Times, Boston Globe, Washington Post, L.A.Times , USA Today, Chicago Tribune, Ebony Magazine, and others. She was inducted in the International Hall of Fame for Writers of African Descent in October of 2000. She was also inducted in the prestigious Society of Illustrators in 2001. View some of Ms. Gilchrist's artwork here.

Jan Spivey Gilchrist has four degrees: a BS in Art Education from Eastern Illinois University, an MA in painting from the University of Northern Iowa, an MFA in writing for children from Vermont College, and a doctoral degree in English from Madison University. She also has a grown son, William, who as a boy was the model she used for William and the Good Old Days by Eloise Greenfield. She also has a daughter, Ronke, and a granddaughter, Raena Bethany Prude.

Jan and her husband, Dr. Kelvin Gilchrist, live in a suburb of Chicago, Illinois. Read more about Ms. Gilchrist's work and life.