I truly believe I have the most wonderful job in the world.

I began drawing at a very early age and I always experienced great joy in being creative. Much of my childhood I spent stretched out on the floor daydreaming and drawing whatever came to my mind.

A desire to improve my drawing and painting has always been important to me. I was determined to be able to render human faces and my brothers and sisters often called my drawings "Monkey People" It is interesting that now I illustrate new Curious George books!

When I was very young I loved the pictures in my books and I began to make books from my own stories and drew pictures to illustrate them. I still have a few of those little books!

I received a BFA from Parsons School of Design in New York City. I learned so much there - about drawing, painting and illustrating children's books. I also learned how to present my work professionally so that I would get assignments as an illustrator. That was more than 25 years ago and now I go to Art Schools and share my experience with the students.

I have published more than 40 children's books as well as illustrations for book jackets, magazines, greeting cards and advertizing. In 2001 I began collaborating with Pat Schories on the Biscuit Series and have illustrated 16 of them. In 2004 I began illustrating new Curious George books. I truly enjoy drawing George in the style of H.A.Rey. I like the challenge of showing him having lots of fun and as usual, getting into some type of trouble. I am presently working on my 8th and 9th Curious George.

My studio is in my home in White Plains, NY. I was very fortunate to work and also to be available while my 3 children were growing up. It is wonderful to be able to take a short break every few hours and walk around my yard and enjoy the emerging flowers, our vegetable garden, the autumn leaves or the snow. I also enjoy hiking, skiing, running, kayaking and bicycling.

I often visit schools and libraries to talk to children about my work. They get so excited when they try to guess what I am drawing for them. To all the children and adults who enjoy picture books - thank you!

Hans Augusto Rey was born in Hamburg, Germany in 1898. As a child, he spent much of his free time in that city's famous Hagenbeck Zoo drawing animals. After serving in the army during World War I, he studied philology and natural science at the University of Hamburg. He then married Margret Rey and they moved to Montmartre for four years. The manuscript for the first Curious George books was one of the few items the Reys carried with them on their bicycles when they escaped from Paris in 1940. Eventually, they made their way to the United States, and Curious George was published in 1941. Curious George has been published in many languages, including French, German, Japanese, Afrikaans, and Norwegian. Additional Curious George books followed, as well as such other favorites as CECILY G. AND THE NINE MONKEYS and FIND THE CONSTELLATIONS.

Catherine Hapka has published many books for kids in all age groups from board books to young adult novels.

She has also written under the names Cathy Hapka, C.A. Hapka, Sandy Beech, and P.J. Denton.

When she’s not writing, Cathy enjoys horseback riding, animals of all kinds, reading, gardening, music, and travel. She lives in an old house on a small farm in Chester County, PA, where she keeps horses, goats, chickens, and way too many cats.