Howdy!
Growing up, Merrill Rainey spent most of his Saturday afternoons drawing, watching monster movies, and going on imaginary adventures. Today, he is a cowboy-boot-wearing, picture book creator and paper toy maker. Merrill’s work focuses on exploring creativity and imaginative play. Whether he is working with traditional or digital mediums, Merrill’s work is full of deep storytelling, rich textures, and a wonderful sense of color! His current titles include My First Town: A Building Block Book, Giants Are Very Brave People (2023 Cybils Awards nominee) written by Florence Parry Heide, Roar! I’m a Dinosaur (winner of the Good Housekeeping Best Kids' Board Book of 2022), Oink! I’m a Pig, and the Color, Cut, Create series. His newest title, On The Air With Dr. Doodlebug (a Booklist starred review recipient) is co-created with award winning author Susan E. Goodman. On The Air With Dr. Doodlebug, is a radio show in a book! During the radio show hosted by Dr. Doodlebug, answers are given to the burning questions that bugs have. Merrill also works for many children’s magazines like Highlights, Ranger Rick, and Humpty Dumpty. He has served on faculty at the Highlights Foundation retreat center and is currently the Co-Regional Advisor for the Northern Ohio chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Merrill’s workshop is located in Whitehouse, Ohio where he doodles away with his editor (his wife), subject matter experts (his kids), and his very opinionated coworker — his pup!
Books:
Super Hero Color - Cut - Create! Paper Toy Activity Book • Self Published (2018)
Some of Merrill's clients: Bluebird Kids Health • HarperCollins • Highlights Magazine • Highlights Press • Hippo Park • Holiday House • Humpty Dumpty Magazine • Intergalactic Afikoman Press • Jack and Jill Magazine • Learning A-Z (Raz-Kids) • Materion • McGraw Hill Education • Odd Dot • Ohio Living • Scholastic • Spider Magazine • Toledo Zoo and Aquarium • Ranger Rick Magazine
Awards: 2025 SCBWI Summer Conference Portfolio Showcase Gold Award Winner • 2022 Good Housekeeping Kids' Book Award • 2018 Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI) Magazine Merit Award • 2017 Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI) Magazine Merit Award - Letter of Merit • 2016 Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI) Magazine Merit Award - Letter of Merit • 2016 Highlights Magazine Illustrator of the Month - June 2016 (Pewter Plate award) 2015 Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI) Magazine Merit Award - Two Letters of Merit 2015 • Highlights Magazine Illustrator of the Month - May 2015 (Pewter Plate award)
Represented by Teresa Kietlinski • Bookmark Literary
For school visits, workshops, & presentations
Sarah DeVore • HowNow Booking
Interviews with Merrill
