William Joyce

Whether it is a green booger or a metallic robot, William Joyce is not afraid to draw whatever is on his mind. To the delight of children, his uncensored imagination creates wacky and cool alter-realities. Joyce is a multi-talented artist who has brought his ideas to life in many forms. Since 1983 he has been writing and illustrating memorable children's books. Joyce has turned two of these books, Rolie Polie Olie and George Shrinks, into popular animated television shows. Joyce has also co-produced a movie and illustrated numerous covers for The New Yorker magazine.

William Joyce is featured in the third episode of Reading Rockets' PBS series, Launching Young Readers. During his interview, Joyce discussed topics ranging from King Kong to whoopee cushions to ice cream planets. To learn more about this unconventional author and illustrator, click on the links below.

• Watch interview clips and/or read the text
• Learn about his life
• See featured books
• Read entire interview

The Life of William Joyce

William Joyce grew up in Shreveport, Louisiana, raised by "a congenial horde of Southern screwballs." His eclectic family included artists, bongo players, photographers, opera singers, geologists, and actors. According to family legend, William Joyce was born with a pencil in his hand.

In the fourth grade, William wrote his first book and entered it in a school contest. "Billy's Booger," illustrated entirely in green crayon, was the story of a young boy who is struck by a meteorite that gives his boogers super mathematical powers. While Joyce's story was applauded by his classmates, it earned him an unexpected visit to the principal's office.

William Joyce's parents encouraged his artistic ways. Joyce took art classes and later entered art school at Southern Methodist University. But when Joyce's professors insisted on changing his signature style, Joyce quit the art school and entered film school. It was there that he studied animation, a skill that would come in handy later in his career.

After college, Joyce moved to New York City. At first, publishers told him that he couldn't make books about such strange topics. In 1983, Joyce published his first book, Tammy and the Gigantic Fish. Two years later, he published George Shrinks. After establishing himself as a prominent author and illustrator, Joyce used his background in animation to produce the PBS television series George Shrinks and the Disney Channel series Rolie Polie Olie, for which Joyce won two Emmy Awards.

Today William Joyce lives with his wife and two children in Shreveport, Louisiana.