Susan L. Roth is the fascinating author/illustrator of over 35 children's books. Susan is a native of New York City. She spent her childhood in Madison, Wisconsin, and received both her BA and MA in art from Mills College in Oakland, CA. As as adult, Susan has lived in California and Maryland and now makes her home back in New York City, where she lives with her husband. Susan loves art, music, theater, travel, dogs, writing and of course, illustrating books for children. Susan doesn't paint! Over the years she has developed her own collage technique into one which is exclusively faithful to cutting and tearing. From the most complete background papers to the tiniest dots of eyes and I's, she ONLY cuts or rips. She is very proud of the technique she developed. Her most recent book, Listen to the Wind, is the story of Greg Mortenson's experience in a Pakistani village of Korphe written from the perspective of the children of that village.
Selected Reviews of Susan's Books
Dream Something Big: The Story of the Watts Towers
Dianna Hutts Aston
Collages by Susan Roth
The amazing construction in Los Angeles, California known as Watts Towers, or Simon Rodia's Towers, is now a United States National Monument. In the engaging voice of a young neighbor, Aston describes how a small chip of tile became the first piece of it collected by a man called Uncle Sam. Our narrator joins Uncle Sam as he hunts through trash and along the railroad tracks for broken bits. Talking to himself, he mixes mortar to place in wire mesh around poles. Into the wet cement he presses his jeweled pieces. The construction grows, year after year, inspired by his memories of his childhood in Italy. A second, then a third tower rises. Suddenly, after thirty-four years, Uncle Sam gives the deed to his property to a friend and leaves, never to return. He is no longer called foolish and crazy; he is called a man of genius. Roth illustrates this remarkable story with collage, an appropriate medium for a creation of bits and pieces. She has collected a variety of broken tiles, decorated pottery shards, and other "trash" similar to that used in the Towers. The end pages are like photo albums of the details of the complex construction. There are additional informative notes, plus suggestions for creating "your own Watts Tower." 2011, Dial Books for Young Readers/Penguin Group, $17.99. Ages 5 to 8. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature).
Listen to the Wind: A Village in Pakistan Builds a School
Greg Mortenson and Susan L. Roth
Collages by Susan L. Roth
Written from the perspective of the children of Korphe, the story of Greg Mortenson's experience in a Pakistani village unfolds. He was lost in the mountains and by chance encountered the village of Korphe. The people helped Greg get well. As he recuperated, he assisted them with his nursing skills and helped the children with their lessons. Once Greg regained his health and was ready to go home, he wanted to do something special for the people of Korphe. The response that he received from Haji Ali was to "listen to the wind"; from those words, Greg knew that he was going to return to help the village build a school: there was no school building and lessons were held outdoors. The story continues with the construction of the school building, which was not a simple task because the supplies had to reach from one mountain to the next mountain where Korphe was located. Yet determination and many helping hands completed the school building. The collages are exquisite and capture the heart of the story. The artist shares her story about the research in creating the magnificent scenes in the book. In addition, there are captioned photographs of the construction and the people of Korphe. Although there are versions of this story for older readers and adults, this book with its richly textured collages is inspirational for readers of all ages. Listen to the wind to hear what message awaits you. 2009, Dial Books for Young Readers/Penguin Putnam, $16.99. Ages 5 to 8. Reviewer: Carrie Hane Hung (Children's Literature).
The Mangrove Tree: Planting Trees to Feed Families
Susan Roth and Cindy Trumbore
Collages by Susan Roth
Sometimes with hard work and science, life only gets better. "The Mangrove Tree: Planting Trees to Feed Families" tells the true story of how scientist Dr. Sato advised the small African village of Hargigo to adopt the growing of Mangrove trees to solve their food shortages and become self-sufficient. A moving and uniquely illustrated fable of hard work and ingenuity, "The Mangrove Tree" is an excellent addition to any nonfiction children's picturebook collection. The Multicultural Shelf. Lee & Low Books, $19.95. Reviewer: Midwest Book Review (Children's Bookwatch, September 2011).
A sampling of Susan's presentations: Collage demonstrations, chalk talk format.
- Walk With Me: From the Idea to the Bound Book - This can be based on subject, particular title, technique, or all of the above.
- How to Get into this Crazy Business
- Hands on Collage Workshops
- Multi-Media Events - This can include music: performed for you, performed by your group, or even commissioned for your group.
- Create Your Own Book With Susan L. Roth: - this can be produced individually or as a classroom or other group.
- "The Big Apartment Theory" or How To Use The Sky For Your Limit: an inspirational message, but with no Sunday School overtones.
- Artist and/or Writer-in-Resident Programs
Fees: Susan's fees are negotiable. Her audience size is flexible depending on which program she is presenting. It is advisable to keep grade levels together for the presentations so that she can address the students at their level. Susan also presents to adult groups and conferences. Transportation and lodging costs to be paid by sponsoring organization.
To learn more about Susan and her publications please visit www.susanlroth.com.
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