Shelley Rotner
Early Childhood General Education & Learning and Engagement in Museum and Cultural Organizations '79
Be open and curious, and ask for what might help move your career in a certain direction. Every part of your journey adds up to a bigger whole. Just stay open to the possibilities.
Children’s book author and photo-illustrator Shelley Rotner has spent her career distilling the world for young readers. Today, her 60th published book, Love is a Big Feeling, is featured in a special exhibit at the Eric Carle Museum, a milestone that celebrates her unique ability to use photography as a powerful tool for storytelling and education.
Long before she stepped into a classroom, Shelley was an accomplished photographer with an undergraduate degree in photojournalism and a résumé that includes working at the International Center of Photography, the UN, as well as at MIT.
Encouraged by her father to consider teaching, she turned toward Bank Street and pursued two master’s degrees in early childhood general education and museum education, completing a pivotal internship at the American Museum of Natural History. Upon graduation, she began her new career as a team teacher for first and second graders at the Friends Seminary in New York City.
While Shelley found the intensity of the classroom rewarding, the pull of her first passion remained strong. Inspired by her own child’s love of books, she eventually decided to combine her photography background with her Bank Street training to become a children’s book author and photo illustrator.
“Bank Street totally changed the trajectory of my career. I didn’t even realize until later how influential it truly was,” she said.
Shelley’s work is driven by a fierce commitment to representation and inclusion. By using photography rather than illustration, she ensures that children see themselves—their real faces and real lives—reflected on the page. Her goal is to provide every child with a “voice” and a “presence.”
Shelley’s time in the classroom continues to inform her creative process. Her understanding of diverse learning styles, cemented by observing students’ divergent reactions to lessons, allows her to craft books that resonate across a wide spectrum of young minds.
Shelley views every professional chapter as a vital contribution to her growth, and she is a vocal advocate for professional curiosity.
She said, “It’s ok not to know exactly what you want to do in the field. Being a photographer, I wanted to put that skill to use. So, in my thesis, I documented block play and wrote about that in different classrooms—but I had to ask for that. Be open and curious, and ask for what might help move your career in a certain direction. Every part of your journey adds up to a bigger whole.”
Shelley also believes in the impact of mentors, especially for those just starting out in their careers. Whether it’s a professor or a professional in the field, if you find someone who answers your questions or particularly inspires you, Shelley’s advice is simple: “Pursue them.”
Through her lens and her words, Shelley continues to prove that education isn’t just about what happens at a desk—it’s about how we see, and help children see, the world around them.
View excerpts from our interview with Shelley.