Hector Fox and the Raven's Revenge

Astrid Sheckels cannot remember a time when she was not telling or illustrating stories, especially ones involving imaginary animals. A native of western Massachusetts and growing up in an artistic family, Astrid spent her childhood playing outside, using her imagination, and drawing. Her Scandinavian roots are evident in her artwork, which she describes as a “mix of classic realism and whimsy.” She studied Fine Art at Greenfield Community College and works as a full-time artist. She is a member of the Western Massachusetts Illustrators Guild and The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.

Astrid is the author/illustrator of “Hector Fox and the Giant Quest”, the first book in the whimsical Hector Fox series. Her debut as an author/illustrator is the award-winning "Nic and Nellie" (2013). As an illustrator, her other award-winning Islandport Press titles are "The Scallop Christmas" (Freeburg, 2009) and "The Fish House Door" (Baldwin, 2010).

Author photo by Elizabeth Joy Saunders.

Sheckels’ painterly watercolor illustrations are richly detailed and atmospheric: the nattily dressed animals are outfitted in dapper Edwardian waistcoats with bushy tails peeking out, while Hector’s cozy home inside a tree trunk is lined with bookshelves and warmed by a roaring fireplace. With a classic fairy-tale feel, this is a suspenseful, well-paced picture book of friendship, bravery, and acceptance. — Linda Ludke, Booklist

Greenfield artist and children’s book author Astrid Sheckels brings a unique touch to her stories, using rich watercolor paintings of anthropomorphic animals — a style she calls “a mix of classic realism and whimsy” — who have a range of adventures in their woodland home. Think a more detailed version of E. H. Shepard’s illustrations for the original Winnie the Pooh stories and you’d not be far off.—Steve Pfarrer, Daily Hampshire Gazette

Artful watercolors depict pounding rain and gilded treasures in this tale about misunderstandings and unlikely friends.—Danielle Ballantyne, Foreword Reviews