Originally from South Texas, MARISSA VALDEZ is a two times #1 New York Times bestselling children's book illustrator and author. She's a graduate of the Massachusetts College of Art and Design, where she received a B.F.A. in Animation. She loves to illustrate stories that are overflowing with humor, wit and totally out-there situations. In her spare time, Marissa gets her illustration inspiration by wandering around natural science museums, watching super-cool dinosaur documentaries and playing with her two fat cats in Birmingham, UK.