David Ezra Stein

David Ezra Stein is an American author and illustrator of children's books. He is best known for his Interrupting Chicken series, which was adapted into an animated television show on Apple TV+ in 2022. The first book of the series has been named a Caldecott Honor book. His father was a cartographer, and his mother was a painter and editor, both of which inspired him as an artist. He attended the Parsons School of Design, where he majored in editorial illustration. While studying, he took a year off, during which he lived in Cape Cod and explored puppetry.

Awards and honors Six of Stein's books are Junior Library Guild selections: Leaves (2007), Interrupting Chicken (2010), Dinosaur Kisses (2013), Ol’ Mama Squirrel (2013), Honey (2018), and The Worm Family Has Its Picture Taken (2021).

Leaves was named one of the best picture books of the year by Kirkus Reviews, Publishers Weekly, and School Library Journal.

Publications

Standalone books

Leaves (G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers, 2007, ) Cowboy Ned & Andy (Paula Wiseman Books, 2006, ) Monster Hug! (G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers, 2006, ) Ned's New Friend (Paula Wiseman Books, 2007, ) The Nice Book (G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers, 2008, ) Pouch! (G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers, 2009, ) Love, Mouserella (Nancy Paulsen Books, 2011, ) Because Amelia Smiled (Candlewick Press, 2012, ) Dinosaur Kisses (Candlewick Press, 2013, ) Ol' Mama Squirrel (Nancy Paulsen Books, 2013, ) I'm My Own Dog (Candlewick Press, 2014, ) Tad and Dad (Nancy Paulsen Books, 2015, ) Ice Boy (Candlewick Press, 2017, ) Honey (Nancy Paulsen Books, 2018, ) Hush, Little Bunny (Balzer + Bray, 2019, ) Don't Worry, Murray (Harperteen, 2022, ) Beaky Barnes: Egg on the Loose (Penguin Workshop, 2023, )

Interrupting Chicken series

Interrupting Chicken (Candlewick Press, 2010, ) Interrupting Chicken and the Elephant of Surprise (Candlewick Press, 2018, ) Interrupting Chicken: Cookies for Breakfast (Candlewick Press, 2021, )

As illustrator only

The Worm Family Has Its Picture Taken, with Jennifer Frank (Anne Schwartz Books, 2021, )