Tom Sperling, raised in DeLand, Florida, earned his degree at St. Andrew’s College in North Carolina and then moved to New York City working as an assistant curator at The Museum of Modern Art.

With his real interest in illustration, Sperling began attending The Art Student’s League where he studied under Steven Katz, a leading illustrator from the 1930’s- 1950’s. His first professional works were a series of lurid murder mystery covers for Harper Collins. He also did freelance work for children’s magazines and was twice awarded the Paul Revere Award for Graphic Excellence.

His first picture book was BIG BILL, a “bad dog” story for Scholastic. He has since illustrated over 50 books, including THE WISH RING, awarded the Small Press Book Award for Best Illustrated Juvenile/ Young Adult Book.

Since then Sperling has worked largely in England, from revised classics for both Oxford and Cambridge University Presses to the 2009 BOY’S ANNUAL. He was the creating illustrator for the LAND OF THE LETTER PEOPLE (Abrams and Co., Publishers), the best selling reading program for kindergarten and first grade in America. Sperling also continues editorial work for a range of clients including The New York Times and CBS Television. Basically he likes reading something and then imagining how it might look.

Sperling currently lives back and forth between his hometown, DeLand in Florida, and Somerset in the UK.

Thomas Sperling is represented by Lucie Luddington — to work with Thomas please email Lucie