Illinois Authors

First Second New York : 2011

Cupcake's life is pretty good. He's got his bakery, and his band, and his best friend, Eggplant. His days are full of cooking, socializing, and playing music. But lately, Cupcake has been struggling in the kitchen. He's sure the solution to all his problems is out there somewhere. But maybe that solution is hiding closer to home.Sara Varon returns with an ageless tale as dreamy and evocative as her break-out hit graphic novel Robot Dreams. At once deeply metaphorical and hilariously literal, Bake Sale is a story for anyone who's ever looked for an easy answer to life's intractable difficulties. It's also a cookbook: Varon includes seven delicious recipes, from classic cupcakes to sugared flower petals to marzipan.

Scholastic Press, New York : ©2006.

When Cat feels sad about living in the hustle and bustle of the city, Chicken finds colorful ways to make Cat feel better.

Scholastic Press, New York, NY : 2009.

When Chicken opens a housekeeping business, his best friend Cat comes to mind as the perfect partner. But Cat is sleepy, clumsy, and makes a lot of mistakes, until he finds his own way to save the day.

First Second 2024

Can Detective Sweet Pea sniff out the suspect and crack the case? From the creator of Robot Dreams, now an Oscar-nominated feature film, comes a new graphic novel series for young readers!Sweet Pea’s got a pretty sweet life. The animals in her hometown of Parkville have always gotten along with one another, and she’s free to spend her days doing what she loves best: making art, hanging out with friends, and digging through the trash for tasty treats. When two new dogs move to town, Sweet Pea is eager to show them the sights and smells of Parkville . . . especially its most famous attraction, the one-of-a-kind GOLDEN CHEW BONE! But . . . the Golden Chew Bone has VANISHED! Parkville needs a detective, and Sweet Pea’s spectacular sense of smell makes her the perfect pup to crack the case.

First Second 2019

NYT Book Review 2019 25 Best Children's BooksIn Hold Hands, beloved graphic novelist and children's book author Sara Varon offers a sweet rhyming story for toddlers about friendship and connection.Hold hands each time you cross the street.Hold hands on the bus if you don’t have a seat.Hold hands when you say goodbye.And also when you’re jumping high.Everybody holds hands. You can hold hands with your little brother or your best friend. You can hold hands with your classmate or even your favorite doll! Gather up your little ones, hold their hands, and share this heartwarming book.

First Second 2020

Sara Varon's My Pencil and Me is a playful picture book that’s perfect for young artists, writers, and makers―especially if they struggle with confidence or writer's block.Sara loves to draw and tell stories, but sometimes it can be difficult to get started. What if she doesn't have any good ideas or her drawings turn out terrible?!Lucky for Sara, she has a friend who is always by her side―her pencil. With a little help from Pencil, Sara learns it's okay if her story isn't perfect, as long as she's using her imagination and having fun.

First-Second 2013

Theodora is a perfectly normal duck. She may swim with a teacup balanced on her head and stay north when the rest of the ducks fly south for the winter, but there's nothing so odd about that.Chad, on the other hand, is one strange bird. Theodora quite likes him, but she can't overlook his odd habits. It's a good thing Chad has a normal friend like Theodora to set a good example for him.But who exactly is the odd duck here? Theodora may not like the answer.Sara Varon (Robot Dreams) teams up with Cecil Castellucci (Grandma's Gloves) for a gorgeous, funny, and heartwarming examination of the perils and pleasures of friendship.A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of 2013

Chronicle Books Join Aaron Reynolds and Sara Varon as they explore the ideal qualities of leaders, diplomats...and giant squid. Squid knows all about being president. It means living in a big house, doing all the talking—oh, and having a tie is crucial. He's all set! In the next election, make a more informed choice. Vote for President Squid!

The enduring friendship between a dog and a robot is portrayed in this wordless graphic novel.

Alternative Comics, Gainesville, FL : 2003.

Sweaterweather is about a turtle, a rabbit, and other sweet creatures on a snowy journey.

Balzer + Bray 2023

A hilarious, rhyming ode to all the teachers of young children who go above and beyond. Perfect for Teacher Appreciation Week and kindergarten teacher gifts.We can’t believe it’s really here!The ending of an awesome year.We know you’ll miss us(don’t cry too long).Now we’ll sing our thank-you song . . .Thank you, teacher, for the tight hugs when we were scared, the fun eruptions during the science lesson, sharing the book that made us fall in love with reading, and for making this the best school year ever!