France has loved drawing for as long as she can remember. In kindergarten, she used to wear out her crayons and refused to play with dolls. France loves nature and enjoys playing with shapes and colors. After a career as a landscape architect, she now devotes herself completely to illustrating playful worlds with a touch of humor. She has illustrated over ten picture books for children. France is originally from the Gaspé Peninsula, but now lives in Gatineau, Quebec, with her husband and their two lovely daughters. Every chance she gets, she goes back to her hometown to breathe the fresh air from the sea.~Facebook: @Francecormierillustration~Instagram: @francecormier

Kari Rust worked as an animation artist and art teacher for many years before stepping into the world of children’s books. She animated for video games, TV shows and movies, and has taught art to both children and adults. When her kids were born, she re-discovered how wonderful picture books are – each one has the potential to say so much with its own blend of images and words. Much like animation, picture books offer the opportunity to bring characters and stories to life. Making books is also a way to explore many interests and be curious, and of course, it’s a great reason to draw. Kari realized it was the opportunity she’d been waiting for!#When Kari was still a young kid she was inspired to become an artist by her mom’s cousin. He was a painter and also made fascinating miniature things, such as snow-covered cabins that lit up inside. Kari’s dad was an architect and her mom made art, so she and her brother never faced any disapproval when they both chose to go to art college after high school.#It’s hard to say when inspiration might strike, and Kari tries to be ready for it. A funny dog, a dried-up garden, an old photo or a childhood memory might spark an idea that she can wonder about and invent images for. Kari also loves to learn about discoveries in science that open new perspectives on life and the universe. She is not a fan of slugs, but is trying to make peace with them.#A graduate of Emily Carr University of Art + Design, Kari lives in an old house in Vancouver with her son, daughter, animator husband and dog, Rolo.~Instagram: @rustikar

Salini Perera is a freelance illustrator from Toronto. She was born in Sri Lanka, raised in Scarborough, and has been making art for as long as she can remember. Now, she gets to make art for picture books, a lifelong dream come true. She lives in the city’s east end with her husband, Michael, and their two cats, Victoria and Albert.

Ohara Hale is a multi-disciplinary artist based in Montreal, Quebec. She was born in Hollywood and has visited and lived in many places throughout world. She works as a fine artist, illustrator, director, animator, voiceover actor, graphic designer and art director.

David Namisato lives in Toronto, and had started drawing pictures professionally in 2005. #But before that, David lived in rural Japan for two years, teaching English at six elementary schools. His office was next to a beach at the foot of a great mountain.#A year after returning to Canada, David kicked things off with drawing pictures for articles in the children’s magazine Know and, later, its sibling publication, Yes.#David then went on to draw the art for the comic series Gabe and Allie in Race through Time for the children’s history magazine Kayak, which showcased major moments in Canadian history.#Then there’s a huge gap where David didn’t work much on any children’s related material for several years until award-winning author J. Torres invited David to collaborate on a graphic novel pitch he was developing.#That pitch became Stealing Home, and it is David’s first graphic novel for children.#When he’s not drawing, David enjoys watching gadget review videos, reading manga, eating pastries, taking naps and looking at the CN Tower from his balcony.~Twitter: @davidnamisato~Instagram: @davidnamisato