Kind

Beatrice Alemagna was born in Bologna, Italy, in 1973. At eight years old she knew she would become a painter and a writer. Since then she has published more than thirty books all over the world–from France and Italy to Japan and the United States. Some of her books available in the United States include A Lion in Paris, which Kirkus Reviews called an “artful, whimsical delight,” and The Wonderful Fluffy Little Squishy, which won the 2016 Mildred L. Batchelder Award. Beatrice makes her home in Paris, where she lives with her husband and two daughters. Visit her at www.beatricealemagna.com.

Steve Antony is the popular author and illustrator of Please, Mr. Panda; I’ll Wait, Mr. Panda; Thank You, Mr. Panda; The Queen’s Hat; Green Lizards vs. Red Rectangles; and Betty Goes Bananas. The Queen’s Hat was nominated for the Kate Greenaway Medal in the UK. Steve lives in Swindon, England. Visit him online at www.steveantony.com.

David Barrow is Children’s Book author and illustrator and a graduate of the Children’s Book Illustration MA at Anglia Ruskin Cambridge School of Art. Whilst on the course, David created his first picture book, Have you seen Elephant? He won the Sebastian Walker award for new talent in Children’s Book illustration at his Masters show and was shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize. Since then he has produced several Picture Books for numerous publishers, including the Kate Greenaway nominated Troll Stroll and Fergus Barnaby Goes On Holiday. Before becoming an author/illustrator David tried a variety of occupations including a brief and largely unsuccessful career as a “Rock Star” (although he still harbours the belief that he will headline Madison Square Garden one day). Also, he was almost in The Fall. Long story… David now lives in the wilds of Northamptonshire in England with his wife Jo and son Teddy.

Sir Quentin Blake, the first-ever Children’s Laureate of the United Kingdom, has illustrated nearly 300 books, including most of Roald Dahl’s children’s books. He lives in London.

Serge Bloch is an author and illustrator of many books for children and adults. He lives in Paris, France.

Benjamin Chaud is the author and illustrator of New York Times Notable Book The Bear’s Song, The Bear’s Sea Escape, and The Bear’s Surprise. He is also the illustrator of A Funny Thing Hap- pened on the Way to School …, The Truth About My Unbelievable School …, and I Didn’t Do My Homework Because …, for which there are 21 foreign editions to date. He lives in the South of France.

MARIANNA COPPO is an author/illustrator from Italy. She studied editorial illustration at MiMaster in Milan, and now focuses on freelance illustration in Rome. She is one of the curators of Tentacoli, an independent label which specializes in fanzines and handmade products. Petra is her first picture book.

Michael Foreman’s numerous books for children have earned him widespread recognition as one of the world’s best-loved illustrators.

Bio to come

Chris Haughton is an Irish illustrator and designer who now lives in London. In 2007, he was named one of Time Magazine’s Design 100 for his work for Fair Trade and People Tree. Little Owl Lost is his first picture book.

Ole Konnecke was born in 1961 and spent his childhood in Sweden. He now works as a freelance illustrator in Hamburg, Germany. He has won many awards, including the German Youth Literature award in 2005.

Sarah McIntyre is an award-winning author and illustrator originally from Seattle, Washington. Her books have received the Bishop’s Stortford Picture Book Award, the UKLA Book Award, the Sheffield Children’s Book Award, the Leeds Graphic Novel Award, and more.

Lydia Monks is an award-winning artist whose brilliantly colored collage illustrations are featured in many popular picture books. She lives in Sheffield, England.

Guy Parker-Rees has illustrated many bestselling Orchard books, including K IS FOR KISSING A COOL KANGAROO and THE CHIMPANZEES OF HAPPYTOWN by Giles Andreae; DOWN BY THE COOL OF THE POOL, DINOSAURUMPUS!, and ALL AFLOAT ON NOAH’S BOAT by Tony Mitton; QUIET! by Paul Bright; and THE HIPPO-NOT-AMUS by Tony and Jan Payne. He lives in Brighton, England.

David Roberts is an award-winning illustrator who has earned great acclaim for his distinctive style. He was born in Liverpool and studied fashion design at university in Manchester. After graduating, he worked as a milliner and a fashion illustrator, but always felt his true calling was in children’s books. David finally realised his dream when his first book was published in 1998, and since then he has collaborated with some of Britain’s finest children’s authors, including Julia Donaldson, Sally Gardner, Philip Ardagh and Jacqueline Wilson. He is also the creator of the popular Dirty Bertie books. He lives in London with his partner. His book Little Red was shortlisted for the 2005 Kate Greenaway Medal. In 2006 he won the Nestlé Children’s Book Prize Gold Award for his line drawings in Mouse Noses on Toast. (Bio via https://www.penguin.co.uk/puffin/authors/david-roberts/1073472/)

Julia Donaldson was the U.K. Children’s Laureate for 2011-2013. She and Axel Scheffler are the award-winning, bestselling team who created The Gruffalo, which was made into an Oscar-nominated short film. They both live in the United Kingdom.

Nick Sharratt is the bestselling illustrator of over 250 books for children including books by Jacqueline Wilson, Julia Donaldson, and Michael Rosen. His instantly recognizable art style has delighted children for years. He lives in England. Visit Nick online at www.nicksharratt.com and @nicksharratt1.

Birgitta Sif is a designer and artist and the author-illustrator of Oliver and Frances Dean Who Loved to Dance and Dance. Born in Reykjavik, Iceland, Birgitta Sif now lives with her family in Sweden.

Lizzy Stewart is an artist and illustrator living in London. She is one half of independent publishers Sing Statistics and an associate Lecturer at Goldsmiths College. Visit her on Instagram @Lizzy_Stewart.

Britta Teckentrup has written and illustrated over seventy children’s books, which have been published in over twenty countries. Her books include Big Smelly Bear, Grumpy Cat, and The Odd One Out, as well as Tree, Bee, and The Twelve Days of Christmas in the Peek-Through Picture Book series. Born in Hamburg, Germany, and educated in London at St Martin’s College and the Royal College of Art, she currently lives with her family in Berlin.

Illustrator and photographer Ken Wilson-Max lives and works in London, but his illustrations are known and loved throughout the world. He is the author and illustrator of his own books, such as Big Silver Space Shuttle and Halala Means Welcome: A Book of Zulu Words.

Cindy Wume is a freelance illustrator from Tainan, Taiwan. After finishing her bachelor degree of foreign languages and literatures, she came to the UK to study MA Children’s Book Illustration at Cambridge School of Art in 2014, having a strong passion for drawing and illustration. Gouache, linear, marker, ink, dip-pen and coloured pencils are the main materials she uses for her artwork. She typically draws inspiration from her observations of humanity, a sense of place and her own imagination for her book projects. The Best Sound in the World is her first picture book.