Robert John Byrd (born January 11, 1942) is an American author and illustrator from Haddonfield, New Jersey.
Following high school, Byrd joined the U.S. Navy in 1961, leaving in 1962 to attend Trenton Junior College.
[2][3] "I always drew as a child, but oddly enough never thought of it as a profession, or what you did when you grew up..Out of all my creative work, illustrating children's books gives me the greatest satisfaction.
"[3] He has also illustrated at least sixteen books for other authors, including Jack Stokes, Robert Kraus, Bruce Kraus, Laura Amy Schlitz, Kathleen Krull, Marilyn Jager Adams, and Paula Fox.
[1][2][3] He has won the Golden Kite Award, and received other accolades from the Children's Book Council and the Society of Illustrators.