Illustrator Profile
Beth Krommes
7 Books
Beth Krommes is an American artist and illustrator renowned for her exquisite scratchboard and watercolor techniques. She won the prestigious Caldecott Medal for her breathtaking illustrations in Susan Marie Swanson's The House in the Night. Krommes frequently collaborates with acclaimed authors like Joyce Sidman, bringing the beauty of the natural world to life in books such as Swirl by Swirl and Butterfly Eyes and Other Secrets of the Meadow.
Have you ever watched a gentle breeze turn into a wild rainstorm? Join a farming family by the sea as they experience the thrilling power and beauty of nature. At first, the wind starts to howl and a few quiet drops fall. Before long, the sky opens up into a pouring, splashing storm that transforms the farm. But the best part comes after the clouds part, leaving behind a wonderful world of messy mud and bright sunshine. With gentle rhyming words and stunning pictures, this beautiful story captures the exact feeling of watching the weather change. It is a perfect celebration of rain, family, and the joy of a good puddle jumping session.
6-8 Years
48 Pages
Step into a beautiful summer day on a quiet woodland farm. Just beyond the house, there is a stone wall with a small, mysterious gap. If you watch closely from sunrise to moonrise, you will see a wonderful parade of wild animals slipping through the hedge. A family of deer steps quietly into the yard, followed by foxes, birds, and other surprising visitors who bring the farm to life.
Told in a bouncing, lyrical rhythm, this story celebrates the hidden magic of the natural world right outside our doors. The stunningly detailed artwork makes every page a joy to explore as you search for all the creatures hiding in the grass and trees. It is a gentle, calming journey that invites you to slow down and notice the beautiful wildlife sharing our world.
6-8 Years
36 Pages
Shadows gently stretch across the room as the sun goes down, but there is no need to be afraid of the dark. When you have the right key, you can unlock a wonderful house filled with comfort and warmth. Inside this special house, there is a cozy bed, a quiet book to read, and a beautiful light that keeps the nighttime shadows away. This soothing story takes you on a peaceful journey through the evening, showing how the gentle glow of a lamp or the bright beams of the moon can make everything feel safe. It is a perfect story to read before going to sleep, reminding you of all the comforting things that fill a home with light and love during the quietest hours of the night.
6-8 Years
40 Pages
A snail shell curls. A fern unfurls. A wave twists, a galaxy turns, and suddenly one shape seems to be everywhere.
Swirl by Swirl follows spirals through the natural world, showing how this beautiful shape appears in tiny living things, rushing water, flowers, animals, and faraway space. Joyce Sidman’s simple, lyrical text helps readers see that a spiral is not just pretty; it can protect, hold, move, and grow.
Beth Krommes’s illustrations add texture and detail, making each page feel like something to explore closely. This nonfiction picture book is ideal for readers who enjoy nature, shapes, science, and noticing patterns in the world around them.
6-8 Years
32 Pages
The meadow has secrets, and the clues are hidden in wings, eyes, stems, songs, and shadows.
Butterfly Eyes and Other Secrets of the Meadow uses poetry riddles and factual information to reveal the living world of a meadow. Each poem invites you to guess, observe, and think like a nature detective before learning more about the plants and creatures that share this sunny habitat.
Joyce Sidman’s poems make science feel playful and mysterious, while Beth Krommes’s artwork gives the meadow texture, movement, and detail. This book is a rewarding choice for readers who enjoy animal facts, insects, nature poetry, and books that ask them to look more closely at outdoor places they might otherwise pass by.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
49 Pages
Branches are not only on trees. They spread through rivers, flowers, frost, lightning, butterfly wings, gecko toes, and even your own body.
We Are Branches celebrates one of nature’s most useful shapes. Through lyrical nonfiction text, Joyce Sidman shows how branching helps living things and natural systems reach, connect, carry, and grow. The book invites you to search for patterns in places both familiar and unexpected.
Beth Krommes’s artwork gives the subject richness and texture, making each page a chance to discover more. A companion to Swirl by Swirl, this picture book is ideal for young readers who enjoy nature, science, shapes, and books that turn careful looking into wonder.
6-8 Years
Have you ever wondered where the first winter snow comes from? High above the world, Grandmother Winter lives quietly with her beautiful flock of snow white geese. All through the spring, summer, and fall, she lovingly tends to her birds and gathers their soft fallen feathers. When the air turns freezing and cold, she shakes out her giant feather quilt, sending a flurry of snowflakes drifting down to the earth below.
As the snow begins to fall, the woodland creatures know exactly what to do. The bears burrow deep, the mice curl up tight, and children run outside to catch the magic on their tongues. This cozy, beautifully illustrated tale turns the coldest season into a warm and wonderful gift. It is the perfect story to read while snuggled up inside on a chilly snowy day.
6-8 Years
36 Pages
