Vita

Murrow

Award Winning Children’s Author

Illustrator, Educator & Filmmaker

Travels from: Boston, MA

“Murrow strikes a tone that is both earnest and good-humored as these royals audaciously rewrite the rules.” — Publishers Weekly, starred review

Vita Murrow is an Author, Educator and Artist. Her experience spans leading literacy programs, classroom teaching and educational T.V. and film. She holds an M.S Ed in Teaching and Literacy from the Bank Street College of Education in New York City, and a BFA in Photography and Video Art from Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle. She is an alumnus of the Aardman Animation Industry Academy’s highest-level courses.

Vita is the author of ten books for children that centre progressive values, interrogate matters of inclusion and representation, and foster connection and uplift art. Her recent feminist fairy tale retellings “High Five to the Hero” & “Power to the Princess” were celebrated as “Brilliant.” By Kirkus Reviews. Vita’s recent title “Sterling” from her series “True Stories of Animal Heroes” won a 2023 Renaissance Quiz Writers Choice Award. Together with her husband Artist Ethan Murrow, Vita is the co-creator of the short film “Dust,” (official selection in the 46th annual New York Film Festival). The Murrows’ children’s book debut, “The Whale”, was nominated for a CILIP Greenway Medal. Their recent title “Zero Local” was nominated for a 2021 ALSC Notable Children’s Book award and received a 2021 Massachusetts Book Award Honor.

Vita's Featured Titles

Lead with Love: travel the world via our universal language

Light up your classroom with songs and a playful activity as Vita brings to life her newest book for young readers (and listeners): The Little Book of Love, a collection of ways and words to show our love in 100 languages.

Features a craft activity “happy heart” and a picture walk/read aloud, 4–8-year-olds will get a glimpse into how a collection like The Little Book of Love came together. From friends in collaboration, to learning, and art. older readers will get a closer look into the research behind this global journey and try their hand at mapping language.

Time for questions always included. Great for up to 25 students. Or even better: two small groups of ten or so.

Less is More: Wordless and wonderful

Wordless and limited-word picture books welcome readers, regardless of language acquisition, to the power of storytelling. Like stepping into a silent film, Vita will be your guide through the incredible world she and her husband, Artist Ethan Murrow, create in their collabs; global debut The Whale (2016) and the award winning Zero Local (2020).

Featuring a behind the scenes (slide presentation) look at the unique process the Murrow’s use to create highly illustrative stories of collaboration, creativity and the power of art. Try firsthand drawing exercising, relive photo shoots and get up close and personal with larger-than-life story boards. Vita shares original spreads, art and video. An opportunity for learning at the intersection of art for social change, ELA and technology.

Q&A always included as well as a sneak peek at the Murrow’s forthcoming graphic novel. Perfect for a single classroom, grade team, or can be modified for an auditorium presentation.

Work It Out in The Remix: fairy tales for these times

This presentation includes a vibrant and playful slide presentation allowing students a look behind the curtain at the studio, editorial process, and research behind Vita’s contemporary fairy tale retellings High Five to the Hero and Power to the Princess (2018, 2019). A duo of books Kirkus called a “Brilliant treasure.” Paired with an up and moving short activity, students will have a chance to ask questions, share ideas and learn the roots of rewriting classics with an eye for inclusion and empowerment.

Highlights include mood boards, story arcs and an exclusive look at real editors notes. Time for a Q&A included. A great fit for individual classes of 25 students, grade teams of 50, and adaptable to an auditorium presentation. Take home coloring sheets available too!

*For middle and upper elementary students an opportunity for a day long visit to workshop and look at student’s own Fairy Tales – a fantastic add on.

We Can Do Hard Things: True Stories of Animal Heroes

Get to know the furry squad of animals in Vita’s 4 book series True Stories of Animal Heroes: Onyx, Sterling, Fluffles and Talala. A short slide presentation will give students a glimpse into the selection and research process for the stories celebrating these furry heroes. Listen to a read aloud and take a virtual tour through Vita’s writing studio to hear about the team of partners and editors who help shape true stories, into fictional retellings.

Includes Animal heroes’ badges and coloring pages. And of course, ample time for Q&A.

A great fit for early elementary classes of 25 students, grade teams of 50, and adaptable to an auditorium presentation.

All The Words a Stage: All the World’s a Page

If you thought writing was sitting quietly and putting words to page, think again. Performance and movement theatre are cornerstone of Vita’s work. From years as a childhood actor, to graduating from a performing arts school, to working in film, TV and animation, even training with motion capture professionals.

Vita will tailor for any age, a slide deck along with an up on your feet theatre game, to illustrate how embodied character performance, and studying and practicing an actor’s toolkit, can serve the development of characters in writing. Vita will bring in actual puppets from set and fun stories from her time working at Sesame Street, and learning at Aardman Animation Studio; creators of Shaun the Sheep, Chicken Run and Oscar Nominated Wallace and Gromit and.

A great fit for small classes of 12 students, grade teams of 30, and adaptable to a small auditorium or black box theatre for 50.

Reading Drawings: Wordless & Limited-word Picture Books for Grown-ups

Reading wordless and limited word picture books isn’t always intuitive. In addition to her creative career, Vita holds and MSEd in teaching and literacy and over a decade of experience as an educator, literacy clinical and literacy program director. Through a conversational slide presentation Vita will illuminate the science and history behind wordless and limited word story telling. Peek into selections from her extensive private collection and come away with recommendations for contemporary classics and new voices in the genre.

Includes slide presentation, book looking, as well as a Q&A.

Make it a Matinee: The Cinematic Arc, an Interdisciplinary Workhorse

Movies and television are big slices of our story telling and entertainment pie. Using slides, Vita curates a look at screenwriters, animatics and storyboards to chart a course from the magic of the silver screen to the writing embedded around us. From social media to Superbowl commercials, even award shows, all contain a storytelling arc. Vita will share her own inspirations and ways she uses the tools of cinema in her literary medium.

A fun fit for colleges and university lecturers looking to introduce students to storytelling as part of their discipline. Or school age students, film clubs or media studies course.

Includes slide show, story arc graphic organizer, and fun role play activity called “Be Hard on Our Hero.” + Q&A.

Myth-busting: As Many Paths to Writing as There Are Writers

In an inspiring, conservation style slide presentation, Vita outlines her path to writing. The trials and triumphs of weaving a multi-dimensional career. Vita will expand on what she looks for in a publishing partner, a pitch or an idea for a screenplay. From her “Send us your trash” model for drafts and manuscripts. To relationship building with with editors, art directors and illustrators.

Vita will offer vision for where publishing can take you. Includes a virtual tour of conferences, venues and gatherings unique to writers and creatives. And a look behind the scenes at where the magic happens: where writers write and how they access resources, funding and support. Includes slide presentation and Q&A.

Adaptable for young audiences grades 4-8 English Language Arts, professional development for adults, or parent/community education.

Writer in Residence

During a series of consecutive visits, Vita will work closely with students as a guest critic and mentor writer. Designed in collaboration with the classroom educator or student representative, Vita will bring her instincts and expertise and an educator, literacy specialist, writer and creative, to a bespoke focused set of visits -fully in the service of the work of the students.

A few days, weeks, even a semester: based on curricular goals and expressed student needs/interests.

Grade 5-8 Approx 25 students. Or up to three sections of the same class.

“THANK YOU for the amazing time spent with you today. Our students had a great time hearing all about your personal experience as a writer, the writing process and getting to know a bit more about what it truly means to be an author. Thank you for sharing that unique experience with them. On a personal note, it was such a pleasure getting to meet and chat with you. You are such a lovely person and I will certainly be singing your praises to local colleagues in the arts and enrichment field.” — Bancroft School

“Vita, the talk was amazing! I spent the rest of the day throwing Vita quotes at the students. The conversation was so good. As students in their first year of design I know that many of the students really connected to you and your work. Thank you again for taking the time and sharing your great work and energy!” — Professor Sean Burkholder, Stuart Weitzman School of Design, University of Pennsylvania

“It was a great event. I absolutely loved hearing about your work. I must say it was not the presentation I was expecting…It was so much more!” — Nobscot Reading Council Reviews

“This volume is a treasure for readers who are tired of traditional helpless princesses who fall in love instantly and “live happily ever after. Brilliant.” — Kirkus Starred Review

“It is girls who take the initiative and direct the action in these fractured fairy tales with a contemporary twist. The author and illustrator offer racial, ethnic, and cultural diversity. Recommended for all collections!” — School Library Journal

“This book is beautiful, and about how love and friendship can overcome evil.” — Risa, 9yrs

“Exciting, surprising, a fun fairytale book that is utterly breathtaking!” — Valentina, 8yrs

“A whale of a tale, beautifully rendered in nothing but pencil. A wordless story of a modern girl and boy. Every illustration showcases the capabilities of pencil forming a series of stunning, photorealistic snapshots. VERDICT A lovely addition.” — School Library Journal

“Wordless, with masterful artwork and an intriguing narrative undertow, this whale’s tale will transfix.” — Kirkus Starred Review

“Husband-and-wife team, debut with a sumptuously illustrated, semi-wordless story of discovery and collaboration. Dynamically varied perspectives, the inky mysteries of the water’s depths, and attention to realistic detail give the artwork a strong, visceral impact.” — Publishers Weekly

“The artwork is the star of the piece. As in the Murrows’ The Whale, the photorealistic pencil drawings are expertly detailed and textured, while the gray palette creates a subdued tone, initially fitting to the theme. The illustrator later adds hints of bright yellow to characters who are literally touched by art—which will help younger readers unlock the meaning behind the story. A touching addition.” — School Library Journal

“The second collaborative wordless picture book from the Murrows (The Whale, 2016), this evokes city life through beautiful pencil drawings…The amount of detail in each illustration is astounding—one spread features the artist’s arm and hand drawing a picture, and careful crosshatching gives it an impressive photorealistic effect…children will continue talking about the artwork long after the book is closed.” — Booklist

“Where words so often fail, the wordless breathes life into people’s smallest actions and deepest impacts, as the Murrows’ spreads uplift the mundane. It’s a positive love letter to community (even among commuter-train regulars), diversity, and paying it forward…Timely and timeless, as kindness always is.” — Kirkus Reviews

“Taut pencil drawings by married collaborators Ethan and Vita Murrow (The Whale) show how art can forge community in public spaces. Meticulously drafted spreads capture the action on an urban train…Detailed portraits of passengers by the Murrows value each one as an individual. The initial artist, cued as gender fluid, is portrayed as a hero whose powers depend on creativity and loving-kindness.” — Publishers Weekly

Grown Ups Read Princess Stories Link

Picturebook Makers Blog Link

Dust Film Link

Honors, Awards & Recognition

“Sterling” from the series “True Stories of Animal Heroes” won a 2023 Renaissance Quiz Writers Choice Award
Together with her husband Artist Ethan Murrow, Vita is the co-creator of the short film “Dust,” which was an official selection in the 46th annual New York Film Festival
“The Whale” was nominated for a CILIP Greenway Medal
“Zero Local” received a 2021 Massachusetts Book Award Honor
“Zero Local” received a 2021 Junior Library Guild Gold Medal
“Zero Local” was nominated for a 2021 ALSC Notable Children’s Book award

Media clips

Boston Globe | With a New Children’s Book husband-and-wife artists envision ‘kindness and connectedness’ on public transportation

Book Riot | MAKE LEARNING FUN: BEST NARRATIVE NONFICTION BOOKS FOR KIDS

Let’s Talk Picture Books | Let’s Talk Illustrators #153: Vita Murrow & Ethan Murrow

Media Kit

By clicking the link below you will be directed to a Google Docs Folder
where you can download author photos and cover images.