The Life of Yumi Heo

  • Yumi Heo is Born

    Yumi Heo was born in Korea and grew up there. She frequently moved with her family to a series of small rural towns due to her father’s assignments as an officer in the military.
  • Yumi Heo Moves to America

    Yumi Hero moved from Korea to the United States to study at the New York School of Visual Arts where she received her MFA in Illustration. During this time she also met her husband, fellow artist Steven Dana.
  • First Publication

    The Rabbit's Judgement was Yumi Heo's first book that was published. Not long after her graduation from SVA, Laura Godwin, then senior editor at Henry Holt Books for Young Readers, thought Heo would be the perfect illustrator for a Korean folktale she had in-house, from a collection by Suzanne Crowder Han.
  • Public Art Project

    Between 1996 and 1999, Heo created an art installation called “Q Is for Queens” consisting of 30 stained glass windows spotlighting the landmarks and people of Queens. The art is located along the #7 subway line at the 33, 40, and 46th Street Stations.
  • Yumi Heo wins 2 Awards

    Yumi Heo was the recipient of the ALSC Notable Children's Book Award and the Charlotte Zolotow Award for Uncle Peter’s Amazing Chinese Wedding.
  • Yumi Heo Wins the Christopher Award

    Yumi Heo won this award for her work in Ten Days and Nine Nights. The Christopher Award for Young People is an award for media that affirm the highest values of the human spirit.
  • Yumi Heo Wins the Charlotte Zolotow Award

    Heo won this award for her illustrations in Flabbersmashed About You. This award is given out to the author of the best picture book text published the preceding year.
  • Yumi Heo Passes Away

    After a long life, Yumi Heo died on November 5, 2016 due to her battle with cancer at 52 years old.