Hi There. 

Way back in 2017, I wrote and illustrated a picture book published by Candlewick Press called JABARI JUMPS. It is a Charlotte Zolotow Honor Book all about dealing with fear, what it means to be brave, and even a little bit about parenting: will Jabari jump off the diving board, or not?! Get your copy here and find out! 

It’s companion book, JABARI TRIES, came a couple years later and is about being a Maker, persistence, team work and how-to-keep-your-cool-when-things-don’t-go-your-way (aka “Being A Human Is Hard”, Lesson #56) and Jabari’s little sister gets a name!

THE UNICORN CAME TO DINNER  was written by Lauren DeStefano (Roaring Brook Press) and illustrated by me! Perfect for people who love unicorns and who are dealing with anxiety. (Pretty sure that’s…everyone, right now.)

BEST BED FOR ME came next in 2021. From Candlewick Press, it was written and illustrated by me. A little girl isn’t quite ready for bed–though her moms are!- and wouldn’t it be fun to sleep like other animals instead? 

FAIRY WALK, Candlewick Press, is available for pre-order now and is arriving on April 1st, 2025. A trio of kids and their loyal doggy companion head off into the wild world in search of fairies. Can you spot all the New England bugs, plants and animals?  

I live in Connecticut with my family–a husband, two kiddos, and two dogs who we suspect are real, live, muppets.

Represented by Emily van Beek, at Folio Jr.

My work has been spotted all over the place, including

People Magazine • The New York Times • The Horn Book • NPR’s Great Reads • Cup Of Jo • The Washington Post • on various state book lists • as well as being an Amazon Best Children's Book of the Year. 

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FAQS:

  1. How do you pronounce your name? I say it Gay-yuh. Hear it pronounced here. (While we’re on the topic I really wish I had this and this book as a kid.)

  2. I made (or want to make) a picture book. What do I do now? Oh the road is very looong and twisty, Friend. But the links below will get you started on your journey.

    •  Kidlit411-- their site and facebook group are both SO helpful and jam packed with information. 

    • SCBWI  ie Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators is the children's publishing industry's main organization. They have huge conferences, but also regional ones, and local groups, all of which can be really invaluable.

    • My friend, and author, Chana, wrote this great blog post with a ton of info: So You Want to Publish a Picture Book!

  3. Where do I found more picture books with diverse characters in them? While the publishing statistics still aren’t great, I do feel like its getting easier and easier to find these books which is awesome. My go-to resources are:

  4. Where’s the best place for me to buy your book? First, ohmygosh, THANK YOU for wanting to my buy books! In general, they are available where ever books are sold, including the Voldemort-of-book-sellers: A-WhoShallNotBeNamed. (They are a necessary evil at this point, but darnit, People, they really suck.) The best place to buy my books and frankly, books in general, is your local bookstore. If you don’t have one close to you, almost all of them do orders online and there’s also BookShop.org . Find your local indie here. Now (and always) would also be a good time to support your local Black owned bookstore, as well. Find one right here.

  5. Will you illustrate my book? I really hate that this is my answer, but: probably, not. Ugh, I’m sorry! But if you’re a publisher, or an agented author, feel free to contact my agent. (See above.)

  6. I want to talk to my kids about racism, but I don’t know where to start… First, I cannot recommend Read Like A Rockstar and Education with An Apron enough! Start with their “Guides for Talking About Racism” for white families, Black families, POC families. (More on their sites to buy too!) And follow them on all social media to get tons of info and resources.