Dr. Frank Serafini is currently a Professor of Literacy Education and Children's Literature at Arizona State University. 

He is also the CEO of Southwest Educational Consultants, Inc.


Frank has been an elementary classroom teacher, a literacy specialist, an educational consultant, and a professor literacy education and children’s literature for the past thirty years. During that time, Frank has published ten professional development books with Heinemann, Scholastic, and Teachers College Press. In addition to his academic publishing, Frank has written and illustrated seven children’s picturebooks, featuring the Looking Closely series with Kids Can Press.

During his tenure as an educator, Frank has garnered numerous awards, including the Distinguished Educator Award from the International Visual Literacy Association, the Distinguished Professor of Children’s Literature from the International Literacy Association, Faculty Teaching Awards at both UNLV and ASU, and the Bank Street Best Book Award and the Teachers Choice Award for his Looking Closely books.

In keeping with his goal to be a modern day Renaissance Man, Frank is an avid traveler and reader, a singer and guitar player on the local music scene in Phoenix, a published nature photographer, and a certified sommelier.


Distinctions & Awards


Academic Awards:

Recipient: International Visual Literacy Association Distinguished Educator Award (2021)

Recipient: International Literacy Association Distinguished Professor of Children’s Literature Award (2014)

Recipient: Arizona State University Faculty Teaching Award (2009)

Finalist: National Reading Conference Early Career Achievement Award (2008)

Recipient: UNLV College of Education Distinguished Teacher Award (2007)

Recipient: UNLV College of Education Collaborative Scholarship Award (2002)

Recipient: UNLV College of Education Distinguished New Faculty Award (2002)

Recipient: UNLV New Investigator Award (2002)

Recipient: National Honor – Listed in Who’s Who in American Education (2003)

Recipient: Arizona State University Nicholas J. Silvaroli Travel Scholarship (2000)

Recipient: Arizona State University Graduate Academic Scholarship (1999-2001)

Recipient: Alpha Upsilon Alpha, National Honor Society of the IRA (1999)

Recipient: Phi Kappa Phi, National Honor Society (1992)


Children’s Author / Artistic Awards:

Nominated: Grand Canyon Reader Award for Looking Closely Across the Desert (2011)

Recipient: Juried Artist – Sonoran Arts League (2010)

Recipient: Juried Artist – Arizona Arts Alliance (2010)

Nominated: CYBLS Award for Best Non-Fiction for Looking Closely In the Rainforest (2010)

Recipient: Bank Street College Best Books for Looking Closely Along the Shore (2009)

Recipient: Bank Street College Best Books for Looking Closely Through the Forest (2009)

Recipient: IRA Teachers’ Choice Award for Looking Closely Along the Shore (2009)

Nominated: CYBLS Award for Best Non-Fiction for Looking Closely Inside the Garden (2008)

Recipient: Society of School Librarians Honor for Looking Closely Along the Shore (2008)