Advisory Board
Tim Sarrantonio
Tim Sarrantonio has over ten years of experience working for and volunteering with nonprofits. After obtaining degrees from Plattsburgh State University, the National University of Ireland at Galway, and Teachers College – Columbia University he moved to Chicago and began his journey to joining Reading With Pictures by picking up The Walking Dead on a whim.
He has raised over $1 million for various causes, created and oversaw exciting events like the Half Acre Charitable Chili Cook Off for The Arts of Life, engaged and enhanced databases of all sizes, procured multiple successful grants, and formulated engaging communications and fundraising campaigns for several nonprofits.
Tim’s background in nonprofits and interest in comic books led to a natural fit as a board member with Reading With Pictures. His passion for making the world a better place, one page at a time, is what excites him about the mission of Reading With Pictures.
Tracy Edmunds
Tracy Edmunds is an educational author, teacher, curriculum developer, editor, and comics enthusiast. Tracy has been devoted to children and education her entire career, beginning with a bachelor’s degree from USC and an M.A. Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from UCLA, followed by nine years of classroom teaching in grades preK–5 and five years as a reading intervention specialist, during which she experienced first-hand the power of comics in teaching and learning. She has edited and authored educational materials for many clients, including Educational Development Specialists, Junior Achievement, Teacher Created Resources, and Shell Education. With the help of her daughters, Tracy has reviewed kid-friendly comics for the websites Newsarama, Comics in the Classroom, and The Graphic Classroom.
Ian Chipman
After graduating from Northwestern with a degree in Comparative LIterature, Ian Chipman odd-jobbed as a writer, bartender, and traveling salesman until he joined Booklist magazine, the review journal of the American Library Association. As a Senior Editor of the Books for Youth section, he transformed the magazine’s graphic novel coverage, was the consultant for YALSA’s Great Graphic Novels for Teens committee, and moderated panels and webinars to spread the comics gospel to the nation’s librarians and educators.
Ian has been dedicated to getting as many comics into the hands of as many children as possible ever since he realized just how much he learned from them as a kid: geography and a love of travel from Uncle Scrooge, wordplay and absurdism from Pogo, history from Asterix, satire from Bloom County. Ian is certain he wouldn’t be the upstanding citizen he is today without such fine influences, and he’s thrilled to join Reading With Pictures’ mission of promoting literacy with comics.
When he’s not reading, taking photos, cooking, and playing with his daughter, Ian’s wondering when he’ll next be able to read, take photos, cook, and play with his daughter.
Trevor Mueller
Trevor Mueller works at an advertising agency by day, and writes comics by night. He is the writer / artist / creator of several popular webcomic series, which can be found on his website, www.trevoramueller.com.Trevor has also written and self-published several other works including the all-ages stories ALBERT THE ALIEN and JUNKYARD CHASE.
He has also contributed stories to several anthologies, including HOPE: THE HERO INITIATIVE from Ronin Studios and READING WITH PICTURES from the non-profit of the same name.
In 2009 Trevor joined Reading With Pictures as their Marketing Director, combining his love of comics, education, and advertising. Trevor gives lectures and presentations throughout the mid-west at conventions and schools on several topics, including the power of combining creativity and literacy.
Trevor resides in the city of Chicago, with his cat Waffles.
Rob Valois
Rob Valois is a Senior Editor with Penguin Young Readers Group where he has edited multiple New York Times best-selling titles, most recently Vampire Academy: The Graphic Novel, which also won the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Graphic Novel of 2011.He entered the publishing world as a graphic novel editor at TOKYOPOP where he helped to launch their original publishing program. As a freelance writer, he has written children’s books for Harper Collins; Simon & Schuster; Little, Brown; Scholastic; and Penguin.Prior to his career in children’s publishing, Rob worked for ten years in feature film development in Los Angeles, most notably as Director of Development for The Jim Henson Company.Rob joined Reading With Pictures in 2009 to help edit their first anthology, which was published to much acclaim in 2010.