Born in Paris and raised in Morocco, Barroux has a passion for travel and exploring other cultures. It’s no surprise that he approaches each new book he is illustrating as if it’s the beginning of an adventure. Barroux strives to create unusual artwork, and when creating picture-book art, he always tries to surprise the little kid that’s inside of him. Despite all of the countries and faraway lands he’s explored, Barroux still believes that life in books, where dogs can fly and trees are blue, is more extraordinary. He has illustrated and, in some instances, written numerous books for children for various publishers, including Blue Apple Books, Running Press, Simon & Schuster, Viking and Kids Can Press.

James Gulliver Hancock’s obsession with reimaging his world has led him to work on major print, TV and music publishing releases. He has participated in projects in the USA the UK, Indonesia, Austria, Germany, France and Australia, taking his whimsical perception around the world.#He grew up in Sydney, Australia and studied visual communications at the University of Technology. In kindergarten, he remembers devising the most complex drawing he could think of, refusing to move on to the next activity and instead detailing a complex illustration of a city of houses including each detail, each person and each spider web between each house. He still has the drawing.#In high school, he discovered technical drawing. He has always been obsessed with machines and the way things work, joining that with a childlike perception of the things around him.#James has traveled extensively, including an overland journey from Sydney to London via southeast Asia, China, Japan, Russia and Europe. Rolling in a typhoon in the sea between Japan and Russia he wondered how he’d save his sketchbook when the ship sank. He undertook artist residencies all over Europe and most recently has been living in New York where he has worked for a wide variety of high-profile clients and taken to the city with his personal project, www.allthebuildingsinnewyork.com.#Currently he works out of two studios: one in The Pencil Factory in Brooklyn, New York and the other from his homeland studio by the beach in Sydney, Australia.~Twitter: @gulliverhancock

Simone Shin is an award-winning illustrator and a graduate of Boston University and the Art Center College of Design. She began working as a freelancer illustrating for magazines and newspapers, and teaching children in the arts, eventually venturing into children’s book illustration. Her inspiration comes from her highly active preschool-aged son, as well as her strong interests in music, nature and family history. In her spare time she likes to create things with fabric and cardboard for fun — game boards, telephones, record players, violins, dollhouses, just about anything she can think of! After residing for many years in the Los Angeles area, Simone currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. She works at home illustrating children’s books all day and all night.

Alice Feagan grew up splashing in creeks, hiking in forests and creating art in the mountains of Western North Carolina. Her love of nature and all things outdoors is reflected in the cut-paper illustrations she creates for children’s books, magazines, products and advertisements.~ ~While studying illustration at Savannah College of Art and Design, Alice developed her unique cut-paper collage style. Over time it has evolved into a playful mix of traditional and digital media that engages and captures the viewer’s imagination. Her love of children’s literature led her to explore the art of writing, as well as illustrating stories for a young audience.~ ~These days Alice spends her time with her husband, two sons and pup splashing in rivers, hiking in forests and making children’s books in the mountains of Colorado.~ ~The Collectors is Alice’s authorial debut.~Instagram: @acfeagan~Twitter: @acfeagan~Facebook: @acfeagan

Kim Smith is the New York Times bestselling illustrator of over 30 picture books, including Boxitects; Builder Brothers: Big Plans; the Pop Classics picture book adaptations of such popular films as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Home Alone, and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial; and the Ice Chips chapter book series. In addition to illustrating picture books, Kim has also worked on children’s video games, puzzles, animation, 3D displays, posters and magazines. Kim lives in Calgary, Alberta.~Facebook: @KimIllustration~Twitter: @Kimdraws~Instagram: @kimillustration