Ellie Peterson - Click to see all titles by this author.

“I love making books that help kids process the hard stuff with heart and humor. Whether it is how to deal with your bestie moving away or what causes the seasons, these are the kinds of stories I want to write and illustrate.”

Ellie Peterson is a children’s writer and illustrator, and a dynamic and inspirational classroom speaker (virtual or in-person). She has a BA in Secondary Ed. & Teaching from Western Washington University and a Master’s Degree in Curriculum & Instruction from the University of Washington.

Ellie’s books are inspired by countless interactions with kids during 21 wonderful years of classroom teaching, her upbringing as a biracial child in a military family, and her adventures in parenting. “I enjoy observing how children interact with the world and capturing those sweetly shared moments, sudden discoveries, and joyous exchanges in my art. I believe all children should be exposed to books that comfort, delight, and inspire.”

Her writing process begins with a few key lines or phrases jotted down on paper with a scribble or doodle next to each. She draws and colors her illustrations using an iPad, adding touches of photographed paper, paint, and fabric.

Ellie’s classroom visits are about “DOING.” With a background in inquiry education, she prompts kids to be active participants in her presentations and brings fun props, artwork, and science tools. She loves teaching kids to draw, as well. “I’m on a mission to teach the world to draw a pufferfish, one kid at a time.”

Ellie is the Equity and Inclusion coordinator for the Western Washington Chapter of SCBWI and a member of the City of Kirkland Library Board. She is working on her Black Belt in Taekwondo and loves to garden. Learn more about Ellie and her books at elliepetersonbooks.com.