Blue Balliett

Blue Balliett grew up in New York City, frequently visiting art museums.

She studied art history in college and later moved to Nantucket, where she wrote ghost stories.

After relocating to Chicago, she taught 3rd grade at the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools.

Balliett's experiences with her students inspired her to write Chasing Vermeer, exploring children's ability to perceive connections adults might miss.

Her subsequent books, The Wright 3 and The Calder Game, continue to blend art, architecture, and mystery.

Balliett aims to encourage out-of-the-box thinking in young readers through her works, which have been translated into 34 languages.