About



Gary Benz

Every storyteller begins with a spark. Mine was found in the woods and waters of Long Island, where the lakes rippled with secrets and animals made mischief in the shadows. I carried those sparks in my pockets like treasures, and before long they tumbled out as drawings and stories.

Now, as an author and illustrator, I weave those same sparks into picture books for children. My stories are playful, a little wobbly at times, but always searching for wonder. They’re inspired by the world around me and the bedtime adventures I share with my kids, Jonah and Hannah.

I believe every story has a secret, a hidden promise, a laugh that lingers, a moment that stays with you long after the last page turns. My hope is that the worlds I create will invite families to pause, to imagine, and to see the extraordinary hiding inside the ordinary.