Award-winning author/illustrator Astrid Sheckels cannot remember a time when she was not telling or illustrating stories, especially ones involving well-dressed animals. Growing up as part of an artistic family in western Massachusetts, Astrid spent her childhood playing outside, using her imagination, and drawing. Her Scandinavian roots are evident in her artwork, which she describes as a “mix of classic realism and whimsy.” She is a member of the Western Massachusetts Illustrators Guild and has artwork in the permanent collection of The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art. Astrid’s children’s picture books include the Hector Fox and Friends series (Islandport Press), the Sea Dog series, and Flora and the Jazzers.