Bio
Lily Williams is an author, illustrator, and storyteller who seeks to inspire change through education. Her work covers many topics, from the trophic cascade in the award-winning animated documentary short film FINconceivable and critically acclaimed award-winning If Animals Disappeared nonfiction picture book series, to menstrual equity in the LA Times Book Prize finalist and Eisner Nominated graphic novel, Go With The Flow, to Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in her My O.C.D. Story and I’m So O.C.D. That… comics and upcoming graphic novel Exposures (First Second). Lily believes in the power of making information fun, educational, and accessible for all audiences.
Lily grew up in Northern California where she graduated from California College of the Arts with a B.F.A. in Animation. She spent time working in feature film animation in Los Angeles before becoming a freelance illustrator. In addition to public speaking engagements, Lily teaches kids of all ages in a variety of settings through University classes, public school, and online.
When she isn’t creating, Lily can be found dreaming about the smell of cold winter air, listening for the sound of airplanes on a rainy day, and perfecting her gluten-free waffle recipe. Lily lives in Colorado with her husband and fellow illustrator, C. Grey Hawkins, and their rescue rabbit.
PARTIAL CLIENT LIST
Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group / Simon & Schuster / Bloomsbury Publishing / HarperCollins Publishers / Sony Pictures Animation / Warner Brothers Animation / Mattel Inc. / GoldieBlox / The Lily, published by the Washington Post / Macy’s / Dissent Pins / Stacey Abrams Gubernatorial Campaign / Traditional Cultures Project
Press
For press on individual projects (books/film), please visit their pages.
ARTICLES
The Boulder Daily Camera / Horn Book Review / Kirkus Reviews / Publisher’s Weekly / The Fins United Initiative / Matthew C. Winner’s Blog / CCA’s GLANCE Magazine / Ocean of Hope
RADIO / VIDEOS / PODCASTS
Colorado Matters with Colorado Public Radio / The Children’s Book Podcast (Go With The Flow) / The Children’s Book Podcast (If Animals Disappeared) / Sony Pictures Animation Artist Profile
For awards & lists on individual projects (books/film), please visit their pages.
COLORADO BOOK AWARDS CHILDREN’S BOOK AWARD, finalist, 2023
INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF BEIJING PANDA BOOK AWARDS MATURE READER CATEGORY, winner, 2021-2022
SSBOY, winner, 2021
NSTA OUTSTANDING SCIENCE TRADE BOOK FOR STUDENTS K-12, 2022
MICHIGAN READING ASSOCIATION GREAT LAKES BOOK AWARD, winner, 2021
MATHICAL HONOR BOOK BY MSRI AND NCTE, 2021
EISNER AWARD, BEST PUBLICATION FOR KIDS, nominee, 2021
LOS ANGELES TIMES BOOK PRIZE, finalist, 2020
ALA NOTABLE BOOK, 2020
YALSA GREAT GRAPHIC NOVELS, 2021
RISE: A FEMINIST BOOK PROJECT 2021 BOOKLIST
KIRKUS REVIEWS BEST BOOK OF 2017 & 2020
NPR’S BEST BOOK OF 2020
NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY’S TOP TEN BOOKS OF 2020
CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY’S BEST OF THE BEST, 2020
TEXAS LIBRARY ASSOCIATION MAVERICK LIST, 2021
INDIE NEXT LIST, 2020
READ BRAVE SAINT PAUL EARLY GRADE PICK, 2020
PURE WOW HAPPY KID AWARD, winner, 2020
THE COOK PRIZE, semi-finalist, 2019
THE NATURE GENERATION GREEN EARTH BOOK AWARD LONG LIST, nominee, 2019
GRAND CANYON YOUNG READER AWARD, winner, 2019
INDIANA LIBRARY FEDERATION YBHA PICTUREBOOK, 2019
AAAS SUBARU PRIZE, 2018
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF TEACHERS OF ENGLISH, Orbis Pictus notable book, 2018
SANTA MONICA PUBLIC LIBRARY GREEN PRIZE FOR SUSTAINABLE LITERATURE, winner, 2018
MICHIGAN READING ASSOCIATION GREAT LAKES BOOK AWARD, honor book, 2018
MARYLAND BLUE CRAB YOUNG READER AWARD (NONFICTION), winner, 2018
SAN FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL OCEAN FILM FESTIVAL, animation award winner, 2016