Korey Watari

Husband-and-wife team Korey Watari and Mike Wu live in Los Angeles with their two lively daughters. Their first picture book together, I Am Able to Shine, was a Bill Martin Jr. Picture Book Award honoree and a Goodreads Choice Award nominee

Korey is a sansei, or third-generation Japanese American, born and raised in Los Angeles. She played basketball for a Japanese American league; graduated from the University of California, Riverside; and studied at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising. Korey has worked in the animation and fashion industries for companies such as Disney and the Gap. Learn more at www.koreywatari.com or follow her on Instagram at @tinyteru.

Mike is the author and illustrator of the acclaimed bestselling Ellie series, the first picture book of which was named one of NPR’s best books of the year. He is also a former Pixar artist and has worked on films including The Incredibles, Ratatouille, Up, Toy Story 3, Coco, and Soul. His illustrations have been hailed as “reminiscent of classics like Harry the Dirty Dog and Curious George.” Visit him at www.theartofmikewu.com or on Instagram at @wudog23.