John Rocco

John Rocco started his career in the commercial shell fishing industry on Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island. In February of 1985, a rogue wave sent John’s boat to the bottom of the sea and John to the admissions office of the Rhode Island School of Design where he studied illustration.

Two years later, he moved to the Big Apple to study illustration at the School of Visual Arts. Upon graduation, Rocco collaborated with actor/comedian Whoopi Goldberg, creating the picture book “ALICE” for Bantam. After that Rocco moved to Los Angeles where he worked as an art director for theme parks,...

John Rocco started his career in the commercial shell fishing industry on Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island. In February of 1985, a rogue wave sent John’s boat to the bottom of the sea and John to the admissions office of the Rhode Island School of Design where he studied illustration.

Two years later, he moved to the Big Apple to study illustration at the School of Visual Arts. Upon graduation, Rocco collaborated with actor/comedian Whoopi Goldberg, creating the picture book “ALICE” for Bantam. After that Rocco moved to Los Angeles where he worked as an art director for theme parks, television and film, including pre-production art director for the top grossing animated feature Shrek as well as many of the attractions at Disney’s Epcot. Rocco recently won top prize at the SCBWI New York Showcase for children’s book illustration. His work was also shown in the 1993 International Children’s Book Art Exhibition and was in three shows at the Art Directors Club of Manhattan.

He now lives in Brooklyn with his wife, daughter and dog and is currently writing and illustrating several picture books for Hyperion Books for Children.