Janet Morgan Stoeke                                         fine art

"I've always painted.

Painting keeps me sane."

*The Eric Carle Museum owns two of Ms Stoeke's Minerva Louise illustrations.

*Children's Choice, Horn Book Magazine and Parent's Magazine have awarded her Minerva Louise series National awards.

* A Hat for Minerva Louise has been in print for 40 years so far! Minerva Louise has been translated into eight languages.

*  A Friend for Minerva Louise won the coveted Silver Medal from the Society of Illustrators.

BIOGRAPHY 

Janet Morgan Stoeke is best known for her whimsical picture books featuring Minerva Louise, a hen whose blithe optimism and inquiring spirit are never dampened by her many mistakes. Stoeke grew up in Connecticut among four siblings, a horse, a dog, frequent woodland adoptees and a pond full of ducks. But no chickens, although there were plenty of them just down the street. So yes, she is fluent in Farmyard. A painter by education, she came to the book-creating business through a contest, and has happily remained a contributor for the past 30 years. Her work has been singled out for its graceful lines, appealing palette and visual humor.

"At the merest stroke of her pen," states Publishers Weekly, "Stoeke invests her poultry protagonist with an abundance of character."