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{{BLP sources|date=July 2020}}
{{BLP sources|date=July 2020}}


'''Laura Freeman''' is a children's book illustrator. She received her BFA from the School of Visual Arts in New York City.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |url=https://aalbc.com/authors/author.php?author_name=Laura+Freeman |title=African American Literature Book Club |author=<!--Not stated--> |access-date=August 4, 2020}}</ref> She has illustrated many books, and done work for [[Highlights Magazine|''Highlights for Children'']].
'''Laura Freeman''' is a [[Children's literature#Illustration|children's book illustrator]]. She received her BFA from the [[School of Visual Arts]] in New York City.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |url=https://aalbc.com/authors/author.php?author_name=Laura+Freeman |title=African American Literature Book Club |author=<!--Not stated--> |access-date=August 4, 2020}}</ref> She has illustrated many books, and done work for ''[[Highlights (magazine)|Highlights for Children]]''. In a review of the picture book version of [[Hidden Figures (picture book)|''Hidden Figures'']], writing for ''[[School Library Journal]],'' Megan Kilgallen said "Freeman’s full-color illustrations are stunning and chock-full of details, incorporating diagrams, mathematical formulas, and space motifs throughout... enhancing the whole book."<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Kilgallen|first=Megan|date=March 2018|title=Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race|journal=School Library Journal|volume=64|issue=3|pages=140|via=EBSCO|url=https://www.slj.com/?reviewDetail=hidden-figures-the-true-story-of-four-black-women-and-the-space-race|accessdate=2018-02-05}}</ref> She shared the 2019 [[NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work – Children]] with writer [[Margot Lee Shetterly]] for ''Hidden Figures''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/2019-naacp-image-awards-winners-complete-list-1191277/item/special-award-entertainer-year-1174377 |title=2019 NAACP Image Awards Winners Complete List |author=<!--Not stated--> |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date= March 30, 2019 |access-date= August 4, 2020}}</ref>
In a review of the picture book version of [[Hidden Figures (picture book)|''Hidden Figures'']], writing for ''[[School Library Journal]],'' Megan Kilgallen said "Freeman’s full-color illustrations are stunning and chock-full of details, incorporating diagrams, mathematical formulas, and space motifs throughout... enhancing the whole book."<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Kilgallen|first=Megan|date=March 2018|title=Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race|journal=School Library Journal|volume=64|issue=3|pages=140|via=EBSCO|url=https://www.slj.com/?reviewDetail=hidden-figures-the-true-story-of-four-black-women-and-the-space-race|accessdate=2018-02-05}}</ref> She shared the 2019 [[NAACP]] Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work: Children with writer [[Margot Lee Shetterly]] for [[Hidden Figures (picture book)|''Hidden Figures'']].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/2019-naacp-image-awards-winners-complete-list-1191277/item/special-award-entertainer-year-1174377 |title=2019 NAACP Image Awards Winners Complete List |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= March 30, 2019 |access-date= August 4, 2020}}</ref>


== Early life ==
== Early life ==
A native of New York City, Freeman was the older of two girls born to African-American father, James Freeman, and Russian-Jewish mother, Gertrude. Her sister is the singer [[Roberta Freeman]].{{cn|date=August 2021}}
A native of New York City, Freeman was the older of two girls born to African American father, James Freeman, and Russian-Jewish mother, Gertrude. Her sister is the singer [[Roberta Freeman]].{{citation needed|date=August 2021}}


Freeman knew she wanted to become an illustrator when she was just five years old and learned it was a career choice. She would go on to want to be a ballerina, then an editorial illustrator, and finally came back to her illustrator dream.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Tate|first=Don|title=Day 10: Laura Freeman|url=https://thebrownbookshelf.com/28days/day-10-laura-freeman/|access-date=2021-05-03|website=The Brown Bookshelf|language=en-US}}</ref>
Freeman knew she wanted to become an illustrator when she was just five years old and learned it was a career choice. She would go on to want to be a [[Ballet dancer|ballerina]], then an [[Editing|editorial illustrator]], and finally came back to her [[illustrator]] dream.<ref name="Tate">{{Cite web|last=Tate|first=Don|title=Day 10: Laura Freeman|url=https://thebrownbookshelf.com/28days/day-10-laura-freeman/|access-date=2021-05-03|website=The Brown Bookshelf|date=10 February 2021 |language=en-US}}</ref>


She chose to go to the School of Visual Arts because she recognized the vast experience in illustration held by the faculty, and because it was a fairly inexpensive option for her at the time.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-02-06|title=Illustrator Saturday – Laura Freeman|url=https://kathytemean.wordpress.com/2021/02/06/illustrator-saturday-laura-freeman/|access-date=2021-05-03|website=Writing and Illustrating|language=en}}</ref>
She chose to go to the [[School of Visual Arts]] because she recognized the vast experience in illustration held by the faculty, and because it was a fairly inexpensive option for her at the time.<ref name=":1"/>


== Career ==
== Career ==
Laura Freeman did not become a successful illustrator right away. She did odd jobs to make ends meet, including painting storefront windows, waitressing, and working for Polo and Ralph Lauren. The first hardcover book she illustrated was ''Jazz Baby'' by Carole Boston Weatherford, which was published in 2002. The first book she both wrote and illustrated was ''Natalie's Hair Was Wild!'' <ref name=":1">{{Cite web|date=2021-02-06|title=Illustrator Saturday – Laura Freeman|url=https://kathytemean.wordpress.com/2021/02/06/illustrator-saturday-laura-freeman/|access-date=2021-05-03|website=Writing and Illustrating|language=en}}</ref>
Laura Freeman did not become a successful illustrator right away. She did odd jobs to make ends meet, including painting storefront windows, waitressing, and working for [[Ralph Lauren Corporation|Polo]] and [[Ralph Lauren Corporation|Ralph Lauren]]. The first hardcover book she illustrated was ''Jazz Baby'' by Carole Boston Weatherford, which was published in 2002. The first book she both wrote and illustrated was ''Natalie's Hair Was Wild!'' <ref name=":1">{{Cite web|date=2021-02-06|title=Illustrator Saturday – Laura Freeman|url=https://kathytemean.wordpress.com/2021/02/06/illustrator-saturday-laura-freeman/|access-date=2021-05-03|website=Writing and Illustrating|language=en}}</ref>


Though she has used many mediums in the past, Freeman primarily works in Photoshop when illustrating children's books, even when sketching out early drafts of pages.<ref name=":1" /> She begins with a manuscript of the text and an idea of how the text and illustrations will be laid out. Freeman values research when beginning new projects, especially when illustrating biographies.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Tate|first=Don|title=Day 10: Laura Freeman|url=https://thebrownbookshelf.com/28days/day-10-laura-freeman/|access-date=2021-05-03|website=The Brown Bookshelf|language=en-US}}</ref> Before the internet, she frequented the New York Public Library picture file, where she could find images of just about anything she could need.<ref name=":1" /> Freeman enjoys illustrating for biographies because she likes to learn about the people she's depicting, and she hopes the children who read these stories will be able to see themselves in these influential figures. She describes her style as being fairly true to life, while still feeling playful. Her experimenting with colors and textures give her illustrations a collage feel.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Carroll|first=Kath|date=2020-12-03|title=December 3 – Cover Reveal of Stompin’ at the Savoy: How Chick Webb Became the King of Drums|url=https://celebratepicturebooks.com/2020/12/03/december-3-cover-reveal-of-stompin-at-the-savoy-how-chick-webb-became-the-king-of-drums/|access-date=2021-05-03|language=en}}</ref>
Though she has used many mediums in the past, Freeman primarily works in [[Adobe Photoshop|Photoshop]] when illustrating children's books, even when sketching out early drafts of pages.<ref name=":1" /> She begins with a manuscript of the text and an idea of how the text and illustrations will be laid out. Freeman values research when beginning new projects, especially when illustrating biographies.<ref name="Tate"/> Before the internet, she frequented the New York Public Library picture file, where she could find images of just about anything she could need.<ref name=":1" /> Freeman enjoys illustrating for biographies because she likes to learn about the people she's depicting, and she hopes the children who read these stories will be able to see themselves in these influential figures. She describes her style as being fairly true to life, while still feeling playful. Her experimenting with colors and textures give her illustrations a collage feel.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Carroll|first=Kath|date=2020-12-03|title=December 3 – Cover Reveal of Stompin' at the Savoy: How Chick Webb Became the King of Drums|url=https://celebratepicturebooks.com/2020/12/03/december-3-cover-reveal-of-stompin-at-the-savoy-how-chick-webb-became-the-king-of-drums/|access-date=2021-05-03|language=en}}</ref>


== List of works ==
== List of works ==
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=== Illustrator and author ===
=== Illustrator and author ===


* ''Natalie's Hair Was Wild!'' <ref>{{Cite book|last=Freeman |first=Laura |title=Natalie's hair was wild! |isbn=978-1-328-66195-1 |oclc=972092595}}</ref>
* ''Natalie's Hair Was Wild!'' <ref>{{Cite book|last=Freeman |first=Laura |title=Natalie's hair was wild! |year=2018 |publisher=Houghton Mifflin Harcourt |isbn=978-1-328-66195-1 |oclc=972092595}}</ref>
* ''Here We Go Looby Loo''
* ''Here We Go Looby Loo''
* ''If You're Happy and You Know It'' <ref name=":0" />
* ''If You're Happy and You Know It'' <ref name=":0" />
Line 29: Line 28:
* ''A Seat at the Table: The Nancy Pelosi Story'' by Elisa Boxer (2022)
* ''A Seat at the Table: The Nancy Pelosi Story'' by Elisa Boxer (2022)
*''Kwame Nkrumah's Midnight Speech for Independence'' By Useni Eugene Perkins (2022)
*''Kwame Nkrumah's Midnight Speech for Independence'' By Useni Eugene Perkins (2022)
*''Ida B. Wells, Voice of Truth'' by Michelle Duster (2022)
*''Ida B. Wells, Voice of Truth'' by [[Michelle Duster]] (2022)
*''The Faith Of Elijah Cummings: The North Star Of Equal Justice'' by Carole Boston Weatherford (2022)
*''The Faith of Elijah Cummings: The North Star of Equal Justice'' by [[Carole Boston Weatherford]] (2022)
*''Standing On Her Shoulders'' by Monica Clark-Robinson (2021)
*''Standing on Her Shoulders'' by Monica Clark-Robinson (2021)
*''Stompin' At The Savoy'' by Moira Rose Donahue (2021)
*''Stompin' at The Savoy'' by Moira Rose Donahue (2021)
*''The Highest Tribute'' by Kekla Magoon (2021)
*''The Highest Tribute'' by [[Kekla Magoon]] (2021)
*''Kamala Harris: Rooted in Justice b''y Nikki Grimes (2021)
*''Kamala Harris: Rooted in Justice b''y [[Nikki Grimes]] (2021)
*''Follow Chester! A College Football Team Fights Racism And Makes History'' by Gloria Respress-Churchwell
*''Follow Chester! A College Football Team Fights Racism and Makes History'' by Gloria Respress-Churchwell
*''Pies From Nowhere: How Georgia Gilmore Sustained The Montgomery Bus Boycott'' by Dee Romito
*''Pies from Nowhere: How Georgia Gilmore Sustained The Montgomery Bus Boycott'' by Dee Romito
*''Fancy Party Gowns: The Story Of Fashion Designer Ann Cole Lowe'' by Deborah Blumenthal
*''Fancy Party Gowns: The Story of Fashion Designer Ann Cole Lowe'' by Deborah Blumenthal
*''Hidden Figures'' (by Margot Lee Shetterly, 2017)<ref>{{Cite book|last=Shetterly|first=Margot Lee |title=Hidden figures: the American dream and the untold story of the Black women mathematicians who helped win the space race|date=2017|isbn=978-0-06-267728-0|edition=First William Morrow paperback |location=New York |oclc=1003490149}}</ref>
*''[[Hidden Figures (book)|Hidden Figures]]'' (by Margot Lee Shetterly, 2017)<ref>{{Cite book|last=Shetterly|first=Margot Lee |title=Hidden figures: the American dream and the untold story of the Black women mathematicians who helped win the space race|date=2017|isbn=978-0-06-267728-0|edition=First William Morrow paperback |location=New York |oclc=1003490149}}</ref>
* ''Althea Gibson: The Story of Tennis’ Fleet-Of-Foot Girl'' (by Megan Reid, 2020)<ref>{{Cite book|last=Reid|first=Megan |title=Althea Gibson: the story of tennis' fleet-of-foot girl |date=2020 |others=Illustrated by Laura Freeman |isbn=978-0-06-285109-3 |location=New York |oclc=1099200411}}</ref>
* ''Althea Gibson: The Story of Tennis' Fleet-of-Foot Girl'' (by Megan Reid, 2020)<ref>{{Cite book|last=Reid|first=Megan |title=Althea Gibson: the story of tennis' fleet-of-foot girl |date=2020 |others=Illustrated by Laura Freeman |isbn=978-0-06-285109-3 |location=New York |oclc=1099200411}}</ref>
* ''Dream Builder: The Story of Architect Philip Freelon'' (by Kelly Starling Lyons, 2020)<ref>{{Cite book|last=Lyons|first=Kelly Starling |title=Dream builder: the story of architect Philip Freelon|date=2020|others=Illustrated by Laura Freeman |isbn=978-1-62014-955-3|edition=First |location=New York|oclc=1104073197}}</ref>
* ''Dream Builder: The Story of Architect Philip Freelon'' (by Kelly Starling Lyons, 2020)<ref>{{Cite book|last=Lyons|first=Kelly Starling |title=Dream builder: the story of architect Philip Freelon|date=2020|others=Illustrated by Laura Freeman |isbn=978-1-62014-955-3|edition=First |location=New York|oclc=1104073197}}</ref>
* ''A Voice Named Aretha'' (by Katheryn Russel-Brown, 2020)<ref>{{Cite book|last=Russell-Brown|first=Katheryn |title=A voice named Aretha|date=2020|others=Illustrated by Laura Freeman|isbn=978-1-68119-850-7|location=New York|oclc=1100424969}}</ref>
* ''A Voice Named Aretha'' (by Katheryn Russel-Brown, 2020)<ref>{{Cite book|last=Russell-Brown|first=Katheryn |title=A voice named Aretha|date=2020|others=Illustrated by Laura Freeman|isbn=978-1-68119-850-7|location=New York|oclc=1100424969}}</ref>
* ''Biddy Mason Speaks Up'' (by Arisa White and Laura Atkins)<ref>{{Cite book|last=White |first=Arisa |title=Biddy Mason speaks up|isbn=978-1-59714-403-2|oclc=1028608813}}</ref>
* ''Biddy Mason Speaks Up'' (by Arisa White and Laura Atkins)<ref>{{Cite book|last=White |first=Arisa |title=Biddy Mason speaks up|year=2019 |publisher=Heyday |isbn=978-1-59714-403-2|oclc=1028608813}}</ref>
* ''The Carver Chronicles Series'' (by Karen English)
* ''The Carver Chronicles Series'' (by Karen English)
** ''Dog Days'' (Book One)<ref>{{Cite book|last=English |first=Karen |title=Dog days|isbn=978-0-547-97105-6|oclc=864823236}}</ref>
*# ''Dog Days'' (?)<ref>{{Cite book|last=English |first=Karen |title=Dog days|date=17 December 2013 |publisher=HarperCollins |isbn=978-0-547-97105-6|oclc=864823236}}</ref>
** ''Skateboard Party'' (Book Two, 2015)<ref>{{Cite book|last=English |first=Karen |title=Skateboard Party|date=2015|publisher=Houghton Mifflin|isbn=978-0-544-28306-0|oclc=1016692452}}</ref>
*# ''Skateboard Party'' (2015)<ref>{{Cite book|last=English |first=Karen |title=Skateboard Party|date=2015|publisher=Houghton Mifflin|isbn=978-0-544-28306-0|oclc=1016692452}}</ref>
** ''Don't Feed the Geckos!'' (Book Three)<ref>{{Cite book|last=English |first=Karen |title=Don't feed the geckos!|isbn=978-0-544-57529-5|oclc=1233075973}}</ref>
*# ''Don't Feed the Geckos!'' (?)<ref>{{Cite book|last=English |first=Karen |title=Don't feed the geckos!|year=2015 |publisher=Clarion Books, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt |isbn=978-0-544-57529-5|oclc=1233075973}}</ref>
** ''Problemas en la Casa de la Lado'' (Book Four)<ref>{{Cite book |last=English |first=Karen |title=Problemas en la Casa de la lado|publisher=Clarion Books|year=2020}}</ref>
*# ''Problemas en la Casa de la Lado'' (?)<ref>{{Cite book |last=English |first=Karen |title=Problemas en la Casa de la lado|publisher=Clarion Books|year=2020}}</ref>
** ''The New Kid'' (Book Five)<ref>{{Cite book |last=English |first=Karen |title=The new kid|isbn=978-1-5490-7498-1|oclc=1145295870}}</ref>
*# ''The New Kid'' (?)<ref>{{Cite book |last=English |first=Karen |title=The new kid|year=2019 |publisher=Houghton Mifflin Harcourt |isbn=978-1-5490-7498-1|oclc=1145295870}}</ref>
** ''Pizza Party'' (Book Six)<ref>{{Cite book |last=English |first=Karen |title=Pizza party|isbn=978-1-328-49462-7|oclc=1016621348}}</ref>
*# ''Pizza Party'' (?)<ref>{{Cite book |last=English |first=Karen |title=Pizza party|date=December 2018 |publisher=Houghton Mifflin Harcourt |isbn=978-1-328-49462-7|oclc=1016621348}}</ref>
* ''Nikki and Deja Series'' (by Karen English)
* ''Nikki and Deja Series'' (by Karen English)
** ''Birthday Blues'' (2010)<ref>{{Cite book |last=English |first=Karen |title=Birthday blues.|date=2010|publisher=Sandpiper|isbn=0-547-24893-8|oclc=946024928}}</ref>
** ''Nikki and Deja'' (2007)<ref>{{Cite book |last=English |first=Karen |title=Nikki & Deja|date=2007|others=Laura Freeman|isbn=978-0-618-75238-6|location=New York|oclc=76261548}}</ref>
** ''Election Madness'' (2011)<ref>{{Cite book |last=English |first=Karen |title=Election madness|date=2011|publisher=Sandpiper|isbn=978-0-547-85071-9|oclc=772100567}}</ref>
** ''Birthday Blues'' (2010)<ref>{{Cite book |last=English |first=Karen |title=Birthday blues.|date=2010|publisher=Sandpiper|isbn=978-0-547-24893-6|oclc=946024928}}</ref>
** ''The Newsy News Newsletter'' (2011)<ref>{{Cite book |last=English |first=Karen |title=The Newsy News Newsletter.|date=2011|publisher=Turtleback Books|isbn=978-0-606-15093-4|oclc=698331657}}</ref>
** ''The Newsy News Newsletter'' (2011)<ref>{{Cite book |last=English |first=Karen |title=The Newsy News Newsletter.|date=2011|publisher=Turtleback Books|isbn=978-0-606-15093-4|oclc=698331657}}</ref>
** ''Nikki and Deja'' (2007)<ref>{{Cite book |last=English |first=Karen |title=Nikki & Deja|date=2007|others=Laura Freeman|isbn=0-618-75238-2|location=New York|oclc=76261548}}</ref>
** ''Election Madness'' (2011)<ref>{{Cite book |last=English |first=Karen |title=Election madness|date=2011|publisher=Sandpiper|isbn=978-0-547-85071-9|oclc=772100567}}</ref>
**
**
* ''Pies from Nowhere: How Georgia Gilmore Sustained the Montgomery Bus Boycott'' (by Dee Romito)
* ''Pies from Nowhere: How Georgia Gilmore Sustained the Montgomery Bus Boycott'' (by Dee Romito)
* ''Friends I Love to Keep'' (by Wade Hudson)
* ''Friends I Love to Keep'' (by Wade Hudson)
* ''Sights I love to See'' (by Cheryl Willis Hudson)
* ''Sights I Love to See'' (by Cheryl Willis Hudson)
* ''Songs I Love to Sing'' (by Cheryl Willis Hudson)
* ''Songs I Love to Sing'' (by Cheryl Willis Hudson)
* ''Jazz Baby'' (by Carole Boston Weatherford)
* ''Jazz Baby'' (by Carole Boston Weatherford)
* ''L Is For Liberty'' (by Wendy Cheyette Lewison)<ref name=":0" />
* ''L Is for Liberty'' (by Wendy Cheyette Lewison)<ref name=":0" />


== List of clients ==
== List of clients ==


* Bloomsbury Books
* [[Bloomsbury Publishing|Bloomsbury Books]]
* Clarion Books
* [[HarperCollins|Clarion Books]]
* Disney/Jump at the Sun
* [[Disney Publishing Worldwide|Disney/Jump at the Sun]]
* Evergreen Flag & Garden
* Evergreen Flag & Garden
* HarperCollins
* [[HarperCollins]]
* Highlights Magazines
* ''[[Highlights (magazine)|Highlights]]''
* Homefires Rugs
* Homefires Rugs
* Lee & Low Books
* [[Lee & Low Books]]
* Little Bee Books
* [[Bonnier Group|Little Bee Books]]
* National Geographic Books
* National Geographic Books
* The National Law Journal
* ''[[The National Law Journal]]''
* New York Magazine
* ''[[New York (magazine)|New York]]''
* The New York Times
* ''[[The New York Times]]''
* Scholastic Magazines
* ''[[Scholastic (Notre Dame publication)|Scholastic Magazines]]''
* Toland Flags
* Toland Flags
* United Methodist Publishing
* [[Abingdon Press|United Methodist Publishing]]
<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=about - Laura Freeman|url=https://lfreemanart.com/about|access-date=2021-05-03|website=lfreemanart.com|language=en}}</ref>
<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=about - Laura Freeman|url=https://lfreemanart.com/about|access-date=2021-05-03|website=lfreemanart.com|language=en}}</ref>


== Honors and awards <ref name=":2" /> ==
== Honors and awards ==


* 2019 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor (''Hidden Figures)''
* 2019 [[Coretta Scott King Award|Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor]] (''Hidden Figures)''
* 2019 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work for Children (''Hidden Figures'')
* 2019 [[NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work – Children|NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work for Children]] (''Hidden Figures'')
* 2019 SCBWI Crystal Kite Award (''Pies From Nowhere'')
* 2019 SCBWI [[Crystal Kite Award]] (''Pies from Nowhere'')
* 2018 Selected as a "Children's Book All Young Georgians Should Read" (''Hidden Figures'')
* 2018 Selected as a "Children's Book All Young Georgians Should Read" (''Hidden Figures'')
* 2018 American Illustration AI37
* 2018 American Illustration AI37
* 2017 Communications Arts Illustration Annual
* 2017 Communications Arts Illustration Annual
* 6 Junior Library Guild Selections (''Nikki & Deja'' and ''The Carver Chronicles'')
* 6 ''Junior Library Guild'' Selections (''Nikki & Deja'' and ''The Carver Chronicles'')
* 2009 Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Book Award Honor (''Birthday Blues'')
* 2009 [[Chicago Public Library|Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Book Award Honor]] (''Birthday Blues'')
* 2004 Seal of Excellence - Creative Child magazine (''A Wild Cowboy'')
* 2004 Seal of Excellence - Creative Child magazine (''A Wild Cowboy'')
<ref name=":2" />


== Current life ==
== Current life ==
Today, Freeman lives with her family in Atlanta, Georgia.<ref>{{Cite web|title=★ Laura Freeman, Children’s Book Illustrator|url=https://aalbc.com/authors/author.php?author_name=Laura+Freeman|access-date=2021-05-03|website=AALBC.com, the African American Literature Book Club|language=en}}</ref>
Today, Freeman lives with her family in Atlanta, Georgia.<ref>{{Cite web|title=★ Laura Freeman, Children's Book Illustrator|url=https://aalbc.com/authors/author.php?author_name=Laura+Freeman|access-date=2021-05-03|website=AALBC.com, the African American Literature Book Club|language=en}}</ref>


To encourage those who dream of becoming writers or illustrators, Freeman says the key is to be persistent and to put in the hours to achieve those dreams.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-02-06|title=Illustrator Saturday – Laura Freeman|url=https://kathytemean.wordpress.com/2021/02/06/illustrator-saturday-laura-freeman/|access-date=2021-05-03|website=Writing and Illustrating|language=en}}</ref>
To encourage those who dream of becoming writers or illustrators, Freeman says the key is to be persistent and to put in the hours to achieve those dreams.<ref name=":1"/>


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Freeman, Laura}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Freeman, Laura}}
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[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:American children's book illustrators]]
[[Category:American children's book illustrators]]
[[Category:American women children's book illustrators]]

Latest revision as of 16:12, 22 October 2024

Laura Freeman is a children's book illustrator. She received her BFA from the School of Visual Arts in New York City.[1] She has illustrated many books, and done work for Highlights for Children. In a review of the picture book version of Hidden Figures, writing for School Library Journal, Megan Kilgallen said "Freeman’s full-color illustrations are stunning and chock-full of details, incorporating diagrams, mathematical formulas, and space motifs throughout... enhancing the whole book."[2] She shared the 2019 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work – Children with writer Margot Lee Shetterly for Hidden Figures.[3]

Early life

[edit]

A native of New York City, Freeman was the older of two girls born to African American father, James Freeman, and Russian-Jewish mother, Gertrude. Her sister is the singer Roberta Freeman.[citation needed]

Freeman knew she wanted to become an illustrator when she was just five years old and learned it was a career choice. She would go on to want to be a ballerina, then an editorial illustrator, and finally came back to her illustrator dream.[4]

She chose to go to the School of Visual Arts because she recognized the vast experience in illustration held by the faculty, and because it was a fairly inexpensive option for her at the time.[5]

Career

[edit]

Laura Freeman did not become a successful illustrator right away. She did odd jobs to make ends meet, including painting storefront windows, waitressing, and working for Polo and Ralph Lauren. The first hardcover book she illustrated was Jazz Baby by Carole Boston Weatherford, which was published in 2002. The first book she both wrote and illustrated was Natalie's Hair Was Wild! [5]

Though she has used many mediums in the past, Freeman primarily works in Photoshop when illustrating children's books, even when sketching out early drafts of pages.[5] She begins with a manuscript of the text and an idea of how the text and illustrations will be laid out. Freeman values research when beginning new projects, especially when illustrating biographies.[4] Before the internet, she frequented the New York Public Library picture file, where she could find images of just about anything she could need.[5] Freeman enjoys illustrating for biographies because she likes to learn about the people she's depicting, and she hopes the children who read these stories will be able to see themselves in these influential figures. She describes her style as being fairly true to life, while still feeling playful. Her experimenting with colors and textures give her illustrations a collage feel.[6]

List of works

[edit]

Illustrator and author

[edit]
  • Natalie's Hair Was Wild! [7]
  • Here We Go Looby Loo
  • If You're Happy and You Know It [1]

Illustrator

[edit]
  • A Seat at the Table: The Nancy Pelosi Story by Elisa Boxer (2022)
  • Kwame Nkrumah's Midnight Speech for Independence By Useni Eugene Perkins (2022)
  • Ida B. Wells, Voice of Truth by Michelle Duster (2022)
  • The Faith of Elijah Cummings: The North Star of Equal Justice by Carole Boston Weatherford (2022)
  • Standing on Her Shoulders by Monica Clark-Robinson (2021)
  • Stompin' at The Savoy by Moira Rose Donahue (2021)
  • The Highest Tribute by Kekla Magoon (2021)
  • Kamala Harris: Rooted in Justice by Nikki Grimes (2021)
  • Follow Chester! A College Football Team Fights Racism and Makes History by Gloria Respress-Churchwell
  • Pies from Nowhere: How Georgia Gilmore Sustained The Montgomery Bus Boycott by Dee Romito
  • Fancy Party Gowns: The Story of Fashion Designer Ann Cole Lowe by Deborah Blumenthal
  • Hidden Figures (by Margot Lee Shetterly, 2017)[8]
  • Althea Gibson: The Story of Tennis' Fleet-of-Foot Girl (by Megan Reid, 2020)[9]
  • Dream Builder: The Story of Architect Philip Freelon (by Kelly Starling Lyons, 2020)[10]
  • A Voice Named Aretha (by Katheryn Russel-Brown, 2020)[11]
  • Biddy Mason Speaks Up (by Arisa White and Laura Atkins)[12]
  • The Carver Chronicles Series (by Karen English)
    1. Dog Days (?)[13]
    2. Skateboard Party (2015)[14]
    3. Don't Feed the Geckos! (?)[15]
    4. Problemas en la Casa de la Lado (?)[16]
    5. The New Kid (?)[17]
    6. Pizza Party (?)[18]
  • Nikki and Deja Series (by Karen English)
    • Nikki and Deja (2007)[19]
    • Birthday Blues (2010)[20]
    • The Newsy News Newsletter (2011)[21]
    • Election Madness (2011)[22]
  • Pies from Nowhere: How Georgia Gilmore Sustained the Montgomery Bus Boycott (by Dee Romito)
  • Friends I Love to Keep (by Wade Hudson)
  • Sights I Love to See (by Cheryl Willis Hudson)
  • Songs I Love to Sing (by Cheryl Willis Hudson)
  • Jazz Baby (by Carole Boston Weatherford)
  • L Is for Liberty (by Wendy Cheyette Lewison)[1]

List of clients

[edit]

[23]

Honors and awards

[edit]

[23]

Current life

[edit]

Today, Freeman lives with her family in Atlanta, Georgia.[24]

To encourage those who dream of becoming writers or illustrators, Freeman says the key is to be persistent and to put in the hours to achieve those dreams.[5]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "African American Literature Book Club". Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  2. ^ Kilgallen, Megan (March 2018). "Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race". School Library Journal. 64 (3): 140. Retrieved 2018-02-05 – via EBSCO.
  3. ^ "2019 NAACP Image Awards Winners Complete List". The Hollywood Reporter. March 30, 2019. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  4. ^ a b Tate, Don (10 February 2021). "Day 10: Laura Freeman". The Brown Bookshelf. Retrieved 2021-05-03.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Illustrator Saturday – Laura Freeman". Writing and Illustrating. 2021-02-06. Retrieved 2021-05-03.
  6. ^ Carroll, Kath (2020-12-03). "December 3 – Cover Reveal of Stompin' at the Savoy: How Chick Webb Became the King of Drums". Retrieved 2021-05-03.
  7. ^ Freeman, Laura (2018). Natalie's hair was wild!. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN 978-1-328-66195-1. OCLC 972092595.
  8. ^ Shetterly, Margot Lee (2017). Hidden figures: the American dream and the untold story of the Black women mathematicians who helped win the space race (First William Morrow paperback ed.). New York. ISBN 978-0-06-267728-0. OCLC 1003490149.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  9. ^ Reid, Megan (2020). Althea Gibson: the story of tennis' fleet-of-foot girl. Illustrated by Laura Freeman. New York. ISBN 978-0-06-285109-3. OCLC 1099200411.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  10. ^ Lyons, Kelly Starling (2020). Dream builder: the story of architect Philip Freelon. Illustrated by Laura Freeman (First ed.). New York. ISBN 978-1-62014-955-3. OCLC 1104073197.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  11. ^ Russell-Brown, Katheryn (2020). A voice named Aretha. Illustrated by Laura Freeman. New York. ISBN 978-1-68119-850-7. OCLC 1100424969.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  12. ^ White, Arisa (2019). Biddy Mason speaks up. Heyday. ISBN 978-1-59714-403-2. OCLC 1028608813.
  13. ^ English, Karen (17 December 2013). Dog days. HarperCollins. ISBN 978-0-547-97105-6. OCLC 864823236.
  14. ^ English, Karen (2015). Skateboard Party. Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 978-0-544-28306-0. OCLC 1016692452.
  15. ^ English, Karen (2015). Don't feed the geckos!. Clarion Books, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN 978-0-544-57529-5. OCLC 1233075973.
  16. ^ English, Karen (2020). Problemas en la Casa de la lado. Clarion Books.
  17. ^ English, Karen (2019). The new kid. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN 978-1-5490-7498-1. OCLC 1145295870.
  18. ^ English, Karen (December 2018). Pizza party. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN 978-1-328-49462-7. OCLC 1016621348.
  19. ^ English, Karen (2007). Nikki & Deja. Laura Freeman. New York. ISBN 978-0-618-75238-6. OCLC 76261548.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  20. ^ English, Karen (2010). Birthday blues. Sandpiper. ISBN 978-0-547-24893-6. OCLC 946024928.
  21. ^ English, Karen (2011). The Newsy News Newsletter. Turtleback Books. ISBN 978-0-606-15093-4. OCLC 698331657.
  22. ^ English, Karen (2011). Election madness. Sandpiper. ISBN 978-0-547-85071-9. OCLC 772100567.
  23. ^ a b "about - Laura Freeman". lfreemanart.com. Retrieved 2021-05-03.
  24. ^ "★ Laura Freeman, Children's Book Illustrator". AALBC.com, the African American Literature Book Club. Retrieved 2021-05-03.
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