The Studio Upstairs

Books  Illustrated

"Grandma's Shoes" by Pat Fisher

to be released mid 2013

"The Door in the Floor -- An Underground Railroad Adventure" by Joan Stiver,  2007

"What Is That Thing? Whose Stuff Is This?"

by John Gile,  2000

"Kids on Board" by Charlie Mae Johnson

1997

"A Friend for Sarah" by Ellen Wade 1996

 "The Lonely Christmas Tree" by Donald Cripe  1995

Illustrator Karen Gruntman is a lifelong lover of children’s book illustrations.  As a child, many happy hours were spent making drawings of Disney characters.  Pencils, crayons, and paper were magic tools that could make ideas materialize. When it came to books, the pictures were the most important part.

    Mrs. Gruntman was raised in a small town in southern Michigan where there were only three artists she knew.  One was her art teacher, Mrs. Carpenter. Another, Mrs. Blasi, taught her how to watercolor paint opening a new world of art for her.

    Western Michigan University and Central Michigan University (B.S.degree) provided Mrs. Gruntman with a solid foundation in art (her Major) and elementary education (her Minor).  With this education, Karen taught elementary art for 20 years in Goshen, IN. 

    Parallel to her teaching career, she was able to develop her fine art and illustration skills.  She studied children's book illustration with Caldecott winning writer and illustrator, Uri Shulevitz at Hartwick College.  Membership in the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators has been an important part in the development of her illustration career.

    She has retired from teaching but continues to develope her illustration and fine art career.

    Goshen, Indiana is where she currently resides with her supportive husband, Dennis and her little dog Bristol. She loves spending time with her family and traveling the world.