I was born in Reidsville, N.C., where I grew up on a farm with my four siblings. At an early age, we all learned how to plant corn, chase chickens, herd cows, and drive tractors. Art was my favorite subject in high school, and I went on to attend the School of Design at North Carolina State University and The Cooper Union in New York City, graduating from both in 1980.

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I worked in the art departments of Simon and Schuster and McCall’s Magazine before founding a graphic design firm in NYC with my husband, Steve Jenkins. In 1994, Steve and I moved our design office to Boulder, CO, where we continue to write and illustrate children’s books and work on graphic design projects for corporate and institutional clients.

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I’ve long had a special interest in handmade books. (Click here to see a few of my early book projects). In 1986, our daughter Page was born. Her brother Alec arrived two years later, and I spent many happy hours reading to them. Jamie, our youngest son, was born in 1998. The questions our children have asked over the years have been the inspiration for many of our books.

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When I’m not working I like to read, watch movies, garden, practice yoga, hike, ski and travel.