I grew up in Wisconsin as Kristi Gerner, the girl who got in trouble in elementary school for drawing too much during class.

I graduated magna cum laude from Columbus College of Art and Design in 2000 with a BFA in Illustration. During college, I had an internship at a small children's book company where I learned different aspects of creating and marketing children's books. After college, I worked in Seedling Publications' graphics department laying out leveled readers for a couple years. To date, I've illustrated 30 books for Seedling.

I recently illustrated a trade picture book for Shen's Books that is due out in April 2009. You can preorder it from Amazon. Check out the December issue of Highlights for one of my illustrations. It accompanied a wonderful Christmas poem by Eileen Spinelli. I just finished illustrating a couple chapter books - check back for more details on those.

I've illustrated hundreds of black & white line drawings for educational publishers, and I license my greeting card designs.I enjoy telling stories through my artwork and also with words. I've written a couple picture book manuscripts I'm currently making into dummies to submit to trade publishers.

I'm an active member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, and I strongly recommend joining that organization, going to their conferences, and joining a critique group if you're interested in writing or illustrating for children.

Some of my favorite things in life are my husband, close friends and family, coconut ice cream, mochas, swing dancing, musicals, reading, mind-puzzle video games, and above all, my faith in Jesus.

2009