photo Lori Morgan Gottschling

About

EMMY KASTNER is an author and illustrator of children’s books. Including OUTSIDE IN AND THE INSIDE OUT: A STORY OF ARNOLD LOBEL, SO TORTOISE DUG, and WHILE YOU’RE ASLEEP.

As a kindergarten classroom reporter she once relayed that the zoo was going to visit their classroom with a promise of “tricks from lions” and “seals with beach balls.” Emmy has been making things up since she was a kid and is pleased to do that for a job now.

A former high school teacher, Emmy taught English and science in San Francisco, CA. Moving back to Michigan, she co-founded the youth writing center Read and Write Kalamazoo (RAWK). RAWK is devoted to celebrating and amplifying youth voices through the cultivation of reading and writing skills, via joy, creativity, equity and access.

Emmy lives in Kalamazoo, Michigan with her husband and three kids, their dog and two cats. She spends most days writing and making art in her studio above her family’s coffee shop.

RECOGNITION

  • 2024 Ezra Jack Keats/Kerlan Memorial Fellow

  • 2024 Shortlist for Picture Book of the Year: Barnes & Noble Children's & YA Book Awards (While You’re Asleep)

  • Horn Book’s Fanfare: Best Books of 2025 (Outside In and the Inside Out: a story of Arnold Lobel)

INSTAGRAM @emmykmakes

The start of something!
🎉 BOOKSTORE EVENTS! 🎉 Over the moon (this very moon, in fact) to share some fun bookstore events coming up soon for WHILE YOU’RE ASLEEP! Pick out your favorite pajamas, and then tell your friends to do the same. Bedtime shenanigans right arou
I always like to get a professional photographer in the studio to take photos of me looking through proofs. Just part of the routine. 😎 A couple months away from WHILE YOU’RE ASLEEP on bookshelves. (March 26 ✨) Grateful for the kind things so
All the love, light and joy this holiday season. ✨ And a new puppy! Meet Booker, the third of his name. (Named after Dan’s childhood Guinea pig, and our favorite basketball player, Devin Booker 🫡) And, we love books. 😎
Over dinner I got some great cover options from my in-house designer. #sotortoisedug #makingpicturebooks
I first drew this little mouse back in 2021. Happy to be working on the final art (even with a messed up pinky!) for SO TORTOISE DUG. I feel very dainty painting and drawing with my pinky up. 🫠 You’ll meet this pal in 2025. #sotortoisedug #m
Otilla from The Skull (I’m the skeleton! We made the mask! And a T-shirt with the art from the case of the book!), Kristy from The Babysitters’ Club, Taylor Swift, a Travis Kelce appearance, and Giovanni Potage from Epithet Erased. HAPP
I made a little post over on my Substack (Strange Pace) about bringing some art from the background of children’s books to life. (Includes some process pics and where this gem is hanging. 😍) 🪡🐷 Link in my stories! #theartinthebackground
My pal @lorimorgannn took some photos of me & my studio. I’ll do a little studio tour soon over on Strange Pace (my l’il corner of substack) Especially wanted to share if you need a brilliant photographer who will sing along with y
Had a great time yesterday on our panel and hanging out with librarians at the @michigan_library_association conference. Always grateful to spend time with my pal David Small & Bonnie Jo Campbell. Ask us to “smile into the sunset” &am
Prepping this embroidery project feels like the perfect procrastination. 😎
Super sad day. We suddenly had to say goodbye to our Penny this morning. 💔 Hearts are broken around here. So many cuddles and sweet memories. She had a good 9 year run. Penny Marshall Sugar Lincoln, we love you.
Thrilled to share this announcement! Sometimes the way stories come together make for great stories in and of themselves. (I can’t wait to tell you about the frog on a tennis court ✨) Ahhhh!!! I have until 2025 to find all the words to express
Wear your fall colors! Grab your acorn cap berets! Join me and my inchworm pal for a fall kickoff story time on the 21st of September at @bookbugkzoo. 🍃🍂🍁 (AND we’ll be announcing a fun pre-order surprise for WHILE YOU’RE ASLEEP!) 🔗