Growing up, MERRILL RAINEY spent most of his Saturday afternoons drawing, watching monster movies, and going on imaginary adventures with his brothers. Today, he is a cowboy-boot-wearing, picture-book-creator and paper-toy-maker. He creates his art tra-digitally—using pencil, papers, and a mix of digital magic.
Merrill also works for many children’s magazines like Highlights, Ranger Rick, and Humpty Dumpty. Merrill’s work focuses on exploring creativity and imaginative play. He has served on faculty at the Highlights Foundation retreat center and is the former illustrator coordinator for the Northern Ohio chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Merrill lives in the Village of Whitehouse, Ohio, with his editor (his wife), subject matter experts (his kids), and some very opinionated coworkers (one pup, a toad, two goldfish, and some crabby hermit crabs).!)
Awards:
• Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI), Magazine Merit Award, Letter of Merit, 2016
• Highlights Magazine Illustrator of the Month, Pewter Plate award, June 2016
• Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI), Magazine Merit Award, Two Letters of Merit, 2015
• Highlights Magazine Illustrator of the Month, Pewter Plate award, May 2015
Visit Merrill online at:
Merrill’s Bookshelf:
illus by Merril Rainey
Astra Hippo Park | 2025
by Merrill Rainey
Odd Dot | 2025
by Florence Parry Heide
illustrated by Merrill Rainey
Holiday House | 2023
• a Cybils Awards nominee, 2023
by Merrill Rainey
HarperCollins | 2022
by Merrill Rainey
HarperCollins | 2022
• A Good Housekeeping 2022 Best Kids’ Book Award Winner
Odd Dot Books | 2020
• an Amazon Editor’s Pick, Best Nonfiction for Kids
by Merrill Rainey
Odd Dot Books | 2020
illustrated by Merrill Rainey
Intergalactic Afikoman | 2022
“Rainey’s redheaded protagonist and good-natured cartooning have an animation-style energy and eagerness; readers may notice that the drawings’ softly mottled textures are reminiscent of matzo itself. The lesson is clear: Passover is wherever you hang-or float-your hat.”—Publishers Weekly
Clients include:
American Greetings • Highlights Magazine • Humpty Dumpty Magazine • Houghton Mifflin Harcourt • Jack and Jill Magazine • Kellogg’s • Ladybug Magazine • Learning A-Z (Raz-Kids) • McGraw Hill Education • Picture Window Books • Pockets Magazine • Ohio Art • Scholastic • Spider Magazine • Razorbill (an imprint of Penguin Random House)
Bookmark Literary 