Monica Sherwood is an author & illustrator based in Brooklyn.
My life has always revolved around telling stories and making things. From teaching special ed to illustrating children's books, I've discovered that creativity shows up in unexpected ways. These days, I spend my time crafting stories for young readers, bringing characters to life through art, and helping fellow teachers reimagine their own stories beyond the classroom.
I believe creativity isn't about being perfect—it's about being brave enough to express yourself.
While teaching special education, I filled the margins of my lesson plans with characters and story ideas, dreaming up whimsical worlds between IEP meetings. Those doodles and stories weren't just an escape - they were showing me the way home.
Now my days are split between bringing stories to life through illustration and writing for young readers, crafting the kinds of books I once shared with my students. I've traded my classroom for a creative studio, but I haven't left teaching behind. Instead, I've found a new way to make an impact, guiding other educators who are dreaming of their own creative futures.
When I'm not lost in the pages of my latest middle grade manuscript or adding finishing touches to children's book illustrations, you'll find me helping teachers write their next chapters.
Storyteller, illustrator, and champion for those seeking their next chapter - always with a book in hand and a sketchbook nearby.
Over the years, I've woven together different threads of creativity into something uniquely mine. As a children's book illustrator and middle grade author, I create stories and art that spark imagination in young readers. My illustrations bring whimsical characters to life, while my writing explores the kind of stories I wished for as a kid. What began as a way to merge my love of teaching with creativity has grown into something more meaningful: helping others find their own creative paths.
Now, alongside writing books and making art, I guide fellow educators who are dreaming of different possibilities. Through my coaching, I help teachers translate their classroom expertise into new careers - whether that's in tech like me, or wherever their stories lead them. Because I believe everyone deserves the chance to reimagine their story, even if the next chapter looks different than they expected.
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Ready to Leave Teaching?
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get my debut novel
With shades of When You Reach Me, The Thing About Jellyfish, and Bridge to Terabithia, and a big, timely climate hook at its core, here is a heartfelt middle grade debut about the inevitability of change that will resonate profoundly during these extraordinary times.
With a deft combination of heartfelt prose and a touch of magic, Monica Sherwood's affecting debut novel is a relatable story of families grappling with—and emerging from—a different kind of quarantine.
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