Mike Wohnoutka

Ever since Mike can remember he knew he wanted to be an artist. His dad, who was an engineer at the Hiway Department, would bring home reams of paper that had hiway plans on one side and were blank on the other. He would be so excited to have all that paper to draw on and would fill each sheet with race cars, snowmobiles, baseball players, super heroes - everything he was interested in. In high school his art teacher, Mr. Chase, encouraged Mike to pursue art as a career. This, along with a scholarship, led him to the Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, Georgia. Since graduating with a B.F.A. in Illustration, Mike has illustrated over 20 books for children. He has worked with various clients including Random House, Dutton Children's Books, Clarion Books, Holiday House, Scholastic Books, Bloomsbury Publishing, Walker & Co., Hyperion Books, Sterling Books, Cricket Magazine Group, General Mills, 3M, and Peaceable Kingdom Press.

"Little Puppy and the Big Green Monster" and "Dad's First Day" are Mike's first two books that he did both, the illustrating AND the writing. Mike will have three new picture books (two of which he authored) coming out in 2019!

A native of Spicer, Minnesota, Mike currently resides in Minneapolis with his wife and two children.

Mike also enjoys visiting schools and talking to students about creating books. For availability or questions please contact him at:

mwtka@yahoo.com or 612-729-8631

Awards and good things

- Society of Illustrators Original Art Show - Jack's House
- National Jewish Book Award - Hanukkah Bear
- ALA Notable Book - MOO!
- Star of the North Picture Book Award - MOO!
- Once Upon A Reader Inaugural Selection - MOO!
- Junior Library Guild Selection - MOO!
- Colorado Lib. for Early Literacy Bell Picture Book Award - MOO!
- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books Blue Ribbon - MOO!
- Amazon Best Book of 2014 - MOO!
- Missouri Building Block Award Runner-Up - MOO!
- Missouri Building Block nominee - Dad's First Day

- Beverly Cleary Children's Choice Award - Davey's Blue-Eyed Frog

- Minnesota Book Award Winner - MOO!
- Minnesota Book Award Finalist - This Is NOT a Cat!
- Minnesota Book Award Finalist - Dad's First Day
- Minnesota Book Award Finalist - Little Puppy & the Big Green Monster
- Bank Street College Best Book - Jack's House
- Bank Street College Best Book - Hanukkah Bear
- Bank Street College Best Book - Clementine Sweet
- Bank Street College Best Book - My Bibi Always Remembers
- Bank Street College Best Book * Outstanding Merit * - Dad's First Day
- Wyoming's Buckaroo Award nominee - Cowboy Sam
- Volunteer State Book Award nominee - MOO!
- Best Books of 2016: Atlanta PARENT - This Is NOT a Cat!
- 2018 Iowa's Bridge to Reading Award - This Is NOT a Cat!

Click here to read more about Mike's books