Arthur Wants a Balloon

Elizabeth (Liz) Gilbert Bedia grew up in rural northern Illinois surrounded by fields, blue sky, and a multitude of jovial animals. She became a keen observer with a big imagination. Liz loved creating stories about the world around her and turned to books to learn more. As a child, she was fascinated with animals, science, and maps. Liz went on to become an elementary school teacher, teaching children with special needs. She later worked with children and adults as an audiologist. She is published in the field of speech-language pathology and audiology. While raising her own children, she returned to her creative roots and started writing books for children. With heart and humor, she loves creating stories about our amazing world. Her picture book, CELEBRATION BESS, is forthcoming from Page Street Kids in the fall of 2020. Liz lives in central Iowa with her husband, two teenagers, and two enormous dogs. Award-winning illustrator Sonia Sánchez paints with both traditional and digital brushes using layers of texture in her work to evoke emotion and movement. Her debut picture book, HERE I AM (Capstone), received two starred reviews and was nominated for the Eisner Award in the category of Best Painter interior art. Sonia’s art has twice been selected for the prestigious Society of Illustrators Original Art Show. She lives with her husband, son, and a sleepyhead cat in a blue house near the Mediterranean Sea.