2-Minute Stories for 2-Year-Olds

I grew up in Bangor, Northern Ireland and moved to England for art college in Liverpool, then London. I did a lot of formal studying, and learned a huge amount during that time, but I think my path towards a career in picture books began with my love of comics and cartoons, particularly “Peanuts”, the creation of my hero, the great Charles M. Schulz. ​ Before I became a full-time illustrator and writer, I did many other jobs including teaching English, working in a bookshop and designing Christmas and Halloween signage for supermarkets! ​ I work with publishers in the UK and around the world including Bloomsbury, Simon & Schuster, Little Tiger Press, Oxford University Press and Hinkler. ​ My books have been published in Spanish (Castillian and Catalan), German, Korean, Chinese, Japanese, French, Finnish, Romanian, Afrikaans, Portuguese, Italian and this year, for the first time, in Scots Gaelic, Welsh and Hebrew!

Olga Demidova studied traditional applied arts and animation in Moscow and spent years working in animation before illustrating children’s books. She always tries to stay positive and see happy little things in everyday life that will encourage those who see her drawings.

Matthew Heroux and Wednesday Kirwan wrote Owl Love You together while walking their dog, Nemo. Wednesday is a children’s book author and the illustrator of Henry’s Bright Idea and Magnolia’s Magnificent Map, in the Walnut Animal Society series, written by Lauren Bradshaw. This is Matt’s first book and their first book together as a married couple. They live in Oakland, California.

Dubravka Kolanovic is a Croatian painter and illustrator. Kolanovic earned a degree in painting after studying at Savannah College of Art and Design and at the Academy of Fine Arts in Zagreb. In addition to being a children’s book illustrator, Kolanovic aids scientific researchers as a part of Earthwatch and is an illustrator of UNICEF cards and posters. She lived in Zadar, Croatia, with her husband and sons.

Katie Melrose is an Orange County–based illustrator and designer. She started drawing the moment she could hold a pencil and ended her education at California State University of Fullerton with a BFA in illustration and an emphasis in graphic design. On top of her illustration work, she co-owns a quirky pin and greeting card business. When she does have free time, you can usually find her messing around on her 35mm camera, weaving at her loom, or backpacking across her home state, California.

Steve Smallman has been illustrating children’s books for 20 years and started writing for children 10 years ago. He is the winner of the 2009 Sheffield Children’s Book award for his book Smelly Peter: The Great Pea Eater.

Originally from a small town near Leeds, Hannah Tolson moved the long long way down to Falmouth, Cornwall to study illustration by the sea. After graduating in 2013, she now still lives and continues to illustrate there. Bold colors and playful compositions inspire her. www.hannahtolson.co