Joanna WalitaloJoanna Walitalo, the illustrator, loves the outdoors. As a child she would spend many hours exploring the acres she grew up on, where her parents ran (and still run) a wildlife rehabilitation and research center, caring for hawks, owls, eagles, falcos, and other rare and endangered species. They instilled in her a love for all things wild, and a respect for the interconnectedness shared with all life. Now, she has a PhD, her own house in the rural Upper Peninsula of Michigan, gardens, a handful of pets, and a son who is also an artist. Her son has a rare genetic skin condition, Epidermolysis Bullosa, where he is missing the protein that holds his skin on, so much of her time is spent caring for him. But between school, doctors' appointments, work, and chores, they do artwork together daily. Being artists is their safe space, a place to be creative, expressive, experimental, and it gives them the ability to share the beauty and passion for nature with the world. Joanna and her son hope you enjoy the book! Read More Read Less