Tara Lazar is an award-winning children's author known for her humorous picture books featuring quirky characters and playful wordplay. Her works include the "7 ATE 9" series, illustrated by Ross MacDonald, as well as titles such as "The Monstore," "Little Red Gliding Hood," and "Normal Norman." Lazar's book "Absurd Words" earned the 2023 SCBWI Golden Kite Award for Nonfiction for Older Readers, while "7 ATE 9: The Untold Story" received both the 2018 SCBWI Crystal Kite Award and the Irma S. & James H. Black Award for Excellence in Children's Literature from Bank Street College of Education.
Lazar's signature writing style blends puns, absurd scenarios, and lighthearted humor, creating stories that appeal to both children and adults. Beyond her published works, she is a dedicated advocate for literacy and writing education, conducting workshops for organizations like SCBWI and Highlights Foundation. A former mentor for We Need Diverse Books and #PBChat, Lazar also speaks professionally about perseverance, drawing from her personal experience living with Multiple Sclerosis since 2010. She holds a BA in English and Writing from Rutgers College and frequently visits schools to inspire young readers and writers.
Lazar continues to expand her bibliography with new releases, including "Bloop," a tale about a misguided alien, and the upcoming "Flat Cat," illustrated by Pete Oswald. She resides in New Jersey with her family and their cat, Phoebe.