Maïa Faddoul was born in Montreal, Quebec, to an Argentine mother and a Lebanese father. Her maternal grandfather was a theme park illustrator, and she’d always been interested in drawings and imagery of any kind. Having studied both illustration and design at Dawson College and UQAM, she now works as a multidisciplinary illustrator and designer, creating empowering, bright and colorful imagery, often with an important message.#Her upbringing, heavily rooted in core intersectional feminist values, has led her to work on many projects centered on women and the LGBTQ+ community, in the hopes of using her talent and creativity to help bring more visibility and power to young and misrepresented groups across the globe. This aspect of her work has allowed her to collaborate on a variety of great projects with clients such as Teen Vogue, Showtime, Time’s Up, the National Film Board of Canada and many more.#Maïa still lives in Montreal and works from her colorful and bright downtown studio which she shares with her partner and fellow illustrator.~Instagram: @maiafadd

Carmen Mok studied studio art at the University of Waterloo and craft design at Sheridan College. While working as a magazine graphic designer she had the opportunity to explore editorial illustration, which inspired her to change her creative path and become an illustrator.~ ~Carmen’s illustrations have been published in magazines across Canada and the U.S., as well as on greeting cards, stationery and children’s home accessories. She now dedicates herself to children’s book illustration. She has received several illustration awards, including the SCBWI Canada East People’s Choice Award for Illustration in 2017 and the Exceptional Portfolio Award and the Storyteller Award in 2018.~ ~Carmen has a deep passion for making children’s books. When she is not working, she enjoys spending time in libraries and bookstores; she also likes hiking, knitting or meeting up with friends.~Carmen lives in St. Catharines, Ontario, with her husband and a cat.~Facebook: @CarmenMokStudio~Twitter: @CarmenMokStudio~Instagram: @CarmenMokStudio

Kelly Pousette is a children’s book illustrator who uses paper cut pieces and dioramas to create magical, whimsical stories and scenes. Primarily self-taught, she experiments with both traditional and nontraditional techniques, incorporating mixed media. Her images often include woodland creatures and mirror the wild natural world around her.#Originally from the west coast of British Columbia, Kelly currently resides in northern British Columbia with her husband and their Anatolian Shepherd, Clovis. Their frequent outdoor adventures help to encourage her imagination and the creation of her paper cut worlds. Fly fishing, hiking and exploring are only a few of the activities that Kelly and her family enjoy in the north. Her favorite season is winter, when the smallest details – such as tiny footprints and lacy leafless trees – are accentuated.#Kelly’s paper cut dioramas capture the peace she feels when she is outside exploring, and she strives to bring the viewer into the scene. Within the slightest details viewers can spot stories within stories, such as seasons changing, wild gardens blooming and animals exploring and interacting. They tell the story of her adventures as well as the importance of these wild outdoor places that deserve our protection.#Kelly Pousette’s work has appeared on a CBC Arts documentary titled Paper Cuts, as well as in the Paris HuffPost and several art blogs. She has previously illustrated three children’s books: Little Things written by Nick Dyer, The Very Very Far North written by Dan Bar-el and Do Not Rake Your Garden in a Party Dress written by Aimée Bissonette.~Instagram: @kpousetteillustratrion

Milan Pavlović was born in Serbia where, after studies in Applied Arts and Book Design he obtained a master’s degree in illustration. Milan started his career as children’s book illustrator and comic artist, publishing his work in many European countries before he moved to Toronto In 2010. He is the illustrator of several children’s books in Canada, including Kids Can Press’s The Boy Who Invented the Popsicle.#Today, except illustrating, he shares his passion and knowledge with students at OCAD University and Seneca College teaching children’s illustration and drawing. #Since he was a child, Milan has loved to read, play the piano and draw. He gets easily inspired by his witty son and by nature, and can be spotted riding a bicycle in many Toronto ravines.~Facebook: @milan.pavlovic.illustrator

Working out of her studio at home in Vancouver, Sakshi Mangal is naturally drawn to the fascinating world of children’s book illustration, where bold colors and scribbly lines inspire her work.#While growing up in Mumbai, Sakshi enjoyed telling bedtime stories to her mother, and this later turned into a passion for bringing these worlds to life through her art. To pursue her childhood passion, Sakshi moved to the United Kingdom to earn a bachelor’s degree in animation from Teesside University, and then a master’s degree from the Cambridge School of Art in Children’s Book Illustration. Since graduating, Sakshi’s work has been published and recognized in both the United Kingdom and North America. With great influences such as E.H. Shepard, Maurice Sendak, Quentin Blake, Walt Disney and Shirley Hughes, it’s easy to see where Sakshi’s love for illustration comes from.#Sakshi enjoys the challenges of storytelling and experimenting with different styles of work. Drawing inspiration from her own childhood, Sakshi finds immense joy in imagining the world through children’s eyes – where bears are getting ready for a tea party and squirrels are dancing to spring.~Instagram: @drawergeek