Molly Bang

Molly Garrett Bang is an American illustrator and author of children's books. Born in Princeton, New Jersey, she grew up in Baltimore and spent summers in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. After graduating from Wellesley College with a degree in French, she taught English in Kyoto, Japan, and later worked as an interpreter for a Japanese newspaper. She earned Master's degrees from the University of Arizona and Harvard University in Far Eastern Languages and Literatures. Bang began her career in children's literature after working as a reporter for The Baltimore Sun. Her work often explores themes of emotion, perception, and science, and she is known for her distinctive illustration style, which frequently incorporates collage and watercolor. She has also worked on public health projects, illustrating materials for UNICEF and creating educational stories for maternal and child health in Mali, West Africa. Bang's book "Picture This: How Pictures Work" is a notable work for adults that analyzes the principles of visual communication and emotional response in art. She has collaborated with her daughter, Monika Bang-Campbell, on several picture books.