Children's book author, illustrator and speaker
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A native Californian, Scott was born in Santa Monica in 1952. He started his career as a commercial artist in 1971. It was during this time that he developed the “Family of Ree” characters.
In 1978 Scott began exhibiting in an art gallery in Laguna Beach, California where he sold paintings of the “Family of Ree” characters. These were so popular, that at the urging of his numerous collectors, Scott wrote and illustrated a series of six books about the World of Ree and its unique inhabitants. The first book, “The Family of Ree” was published in 1985 and is now in its sixth edition. In addition to the “Family of Ree” series of books, Scott has written and illustrated three other series, “The Kuekumber Kids,” "How to Draw Stuff," and “Adventures of Dinosaur Dog”. He is currently working on creating Kindle editions of his Kuekumber Kids series. Since the publishing of his first book, Scott has toured schools, libraries, and bookstores around the United States and has spoken to over 500,000 students and over 80,000 teachers, librarians, and administrators, delivering his “Education Through Imagination” workshops. Click for information about having Scott visit your school. |
Author Interview
This is from an 2011 interview of Mr. Sutton by gallery owner Loretta Alvarado.
Loretta Alvarado: So, why did you write these books?
Scott Sutton: I had a "not so great" childhood and books were my escape. These books give a place for kids to retreat to, a place to go, a vacation in your mind.
Alvarado: What is special about them?
Sutton: The world of Ree is a very different place with unique characters and eco-system and instead of solving their problems with ninjas or guns they figure it out and fix it like regular people do.
Alvarado: How do they help parents?
Sutton: The books give parents an opportunity to create quality time with their kids and they are stories that the parents enjoy, too.
Alvarado: How do they help children?
Sutton: By using a high quality art and rhyme you overcome barriers to understanding. Kids understand easier and more quickly.
Alvarado: What do other people say about your books?
Sutton: I have sold over 80,000 Family of Ree books and my collectors love them so much that they are now giving them to their great grandchildren.
Alvarado: Why is incorporating values in your stories important?
Sutton: The underlying value in all my books is: "treat others as you would like to be treated". No civilization, country, state or family can exist long with out this value.
Alvarado: How do you inspire children to read and why is that important?
Sutton: Through the art and creativity. Many, if not most kids need visual input to not only be inspired but to learn. It is important because the more literate you are the easier your life will be.
Alvarado: How do the colorful illustrations help to get children reading?
Sutton: The art pulls them through the book and it illustrates what is going on so they get the visual along with the words.
Alvarado: What is so important about rhyme?
Sutton: It helps kids predict the next word (as teachers will tell you) and it helps them remember because the words have now become art.
Loretta Alvarado: So, why did you write these books?
Scott Sutton: I had a "not so great" childhood and books were my escape. These books give a place for kids to retreat to, a place to go, a vacation in your mind.
Alvarado: What is special about them?
Sutton: The world of Ree is a very different place with unique characters and eco-system and instead of solving their problems with ninjas or guns they figure it out and fix it like regular people do.
Alvarado: How do they help parents?
Sutton: The books give parents an opportunity to create quality time with their kids and they are stories that the parents enjoy, too.
Alvarado: How do they help children?
Sutton: By using a high quality art and rhyme you overcome barriers to understanding. Kids understand easier and more quickly.
Alvarado: What do other people say about your books?
Sutton: I have sold over 80,000 Family of Ree books and my collectors love them so much that they are now giving them to their great grandchildren.
Alvarado: Why is incorporating values in your stories important?
Sutton: The underlying value in all my books is: "treat others as you would like to be treated". No civilization, country, state or family can exist long with out this value.
Alvarado: How do you inspire children to read and why is that important?
Sutton: Through the art and creativity. Many, if not most kids need visual input to not only be inspired but to learn. It is important because the more literate you are the easier your life will be.
Alvarado: How do the colorful illustrations help to get children reading?
Sutton: The art pulls them through the book and it illustrates what is going on so they get the visual along with the words.
Alvarado: What is so important about rhyme?
Sutton: It helps kids predict the next word (as teachers will tell you) and it helps them remember because the words have now become art.
