Happy Birthday to children’s picture book author Jan Brett! She was born on this day in 1949. If you have my calendar celebrating picture books, you will see I take note of her birthday today. (You can buy the calendar here.) Jan is one of my favorite illustrators of children’s picture books. As a talented artist, she has mastered the art of creating lusciously drawn, sumptuous Christmas picture books.

Here is a fun video with Jan Brett, talking about the story behind illustrating her picture book with the text of C. Clement Moore’s ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas. She used Stockbridge, MA, Norman Rockwell’s town, as the model for the town she draws in the book.

If you want more suggestions for Christmas picture books, check out my compilation here.