Ellen Rooney grew up in the 1970s with three big sisters, two big brothers, her mom and dad, and various dogs, cats and other pets. Their house was a block from the town library, and Ellen loved to visit the children’s room where her next-door neighbor was the librarian. She probably learned the alphabet by searching the picture book shelves when she was still too little to go to school. She searched the K’s for Ezra Jack Keats, the S’s for William Steig and Maurice Sendak and the L’s for Leo Leonni. She started to dream about illustrating books herself.#On the way to becoming an illustrator, Ellen got distracted by a lot of other interesting things, so it took her a while to start making picture books. She always continued to learn about the world by drawing in a sketchbook. Now that she is finally doing her dream job, she is still inspired by her other interests, like painting, printmaking, people, science, plants, animals and graphic design.#Born in New England, Ellen carries the east coast in her heart while making her home in western Canada. She lives in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia with her husband and their dog. She loves to visit her big New England family, and the Atlantic Ocean, whenever she can.~Instagram: @ellenaroo

Stacy Curtis is an award-winning cartoonist, illustrator and printmaker. He has illustrated several children’s books, including The Seven Habits of Happy Kids and the Raymond and Graham chapter book series. He lives in Chicago, Illinois.

Zafouko Yamamoto is a Greek illustrator living and working in Thessaloniki, Greece. She started illustrating some years ago after finishing her studies as an architect, in small sketchbooks using the cheapest watercolors and colored pencils she could find. After years of experimenting and practice she realized that art is what she wants to do.#What she loves about illustrating for children’s books is the whole procedure, including research, first sketches, coloring and final editing in Photoshop.#She gets inspired by walking in nature or in the city and also by other artists’ work.~Instagram: @zafouko_yamamoto_illustrations

Valéry Goulet grew up in Québec. That’s where she first fell in love with illustration. Dreaming up worlds as a child turned into academic ambition as an adult. She studied at Université Laval and earned a Master’s in Interaction Design.#In 2002, when illustration opportunities beckoned out west, Valéry moved to a street in Edmonton where the stop signs say arrête. Home away from home.#Since her move to Alberta, she’s worked with global brands and agencies. And her illustrations have garnered attention far and wide.#When she’s not illustrating, she’s teaching. Valéry instructs for the Visual Communication Design Program at the University of Alberta. She also teaches in the Bachelor of Design program at MacEwan University. By inspiring others, she connects with the spirit of creativity that fueled her dreams as a child. Even though her first home is far away, her craft somehow always brings her back.~Instagram: @valerydesignwrks~Twitter: @valerydesignwrk

Born in Hong Kong, Dawn Lo is an illustrator currently based in Vancouver, unceded lands of the Squamish, Musqueam, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations. Her work has appeared in picture books, stationery, greeting cards, public art installations, murals and more! Dawn aims to create works that are high-spirited and whimsical while retaining a certain degree of simplicity and humor. Most of her work is inspired by little, everyday moments and personal multicultural experiences. When she is not drawing at her home studio, she works at the public library where she can surround herself with more books.~Instagram: @dawndawndawnillustration~Twitter: @dawndawnillo~Tumblr: @dawndawndawnprocess