children’s book

Illustrating Maggie the Cat

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Wilhelmina on red

Welcome to the Maggie the Cat book series, starring spunky little Wilhelmina and her animal friends, including Maggie the Cat. These stories take place largely on Grandpa Charlie’s apple farm and focus on love and family. They will leave you longing for the simple things, like spending time in the tree swing, the smell of apple bread baking, and leaf piles.

cat drawing

It was a joy to work with author Julia Russo to bring to life her adorable characters. We worked together remotely through the whole process, from approving initial pencil sketches, to choosing colors for the final illustrations.

goat drawing

 

Published by Jan-Carol Publishing, Inc., both Maggie the Cat Who Came Home for Christmas and Maggie the Cat Loves Pip’s Thanksgiving Surprise are available on Amazon.

Illustrating Ray-Ray

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A Horse Named Ray-Ray is a collection of stories about the special bond between girls and horses and the challenges of competitive trail riding. Imagine keeping your horse calm as you’re handed an open umbrella, riding through bouncing balloons, or over a flapping tarp!

horse and umbrella picture

The goal of these illustrations was to express the trust, teamwork, joy and friendship, and to give a glimpse into the diversity of riders and horses from all over the world.

Proceeds from this book go toward recovery costs of the author’s sister Jenn, an avid horse rider who suffered a brain aneurysm as an adult. It was her brother Reed’s creation and repetition of these stories that helped to restore her memory! Available from Amazon.

jumping horse
 

Illustrating Gabby Batts

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portrait of character GabbyGabby Batts, ExtraOrdinary Hero is a story that got its start in the classroom as a lesson to prepare students for handling conflict. It focuses on cause and effect, and how to turn the situation around. Author, Tiffany, imagined her main character with wild hair and freckles. She wanted other characters to look like real-life counterparts. I had such fun bringing her ideas to life.

This story is a great conversation-starting tool for parents and grandparents and group discussions. We found children really wanted to talk about their own experiences on the topic.

page 12 from the book

Above, a sample page, and below, a handmade Gabby doll ready for local book signing.

photo of doll

Available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.