• Age: 0 to 7
• Grade: p to 2
• Reading age: 4 to 6

It’s bedtime, but sleep will not come to Tabitha. The bed is cozy. The room is dark and quiet. Her favourite things surround her. She should be able to go to sleep, but something is missing. What can it be? As she lies waiting, the animals call to her. Will the whale lull her to sleep? Can the eagle carry her to dreamland? Or the horse? The frog? The rabbit? Nothing seems to work. And then sleep comes, as it often does, from an unexpected place. Recommended reading ages: 4-8

Maggie de Vries has been writing books for children and teens for twenty-five years. She co-wrote her first book in 1988 with her aunt and mentor, children’s author, Jean Little, and since then much of her work has related to children and writing. Maggie lives with her husband and their two cats in a townhouse overlooking the Fraser River in Vancouver. One of those cats might just be the offspring of a certain sleepy character in How Sleep Found Tabitha!

Maggie Vries' profile page

Sheena enjoys a very successful 20-year career as a professional artist.

She has illustrated 9 successful children's books including How Sleep Found Tabitha, Going To The Fair and the perennial bestseller, Jessie's Island. Salmon Forest, written by Dr David Suzuki and Sara Ellis was released last spring. She won The Science in Society National book award and has been short listed for the BC Book Prize as well as the Amelia Francis Illustrators Award. Sheena has been featured on CBC radio as well as CH television.

This busy artist is best known for her crisp, colourful watercolors and oils . She combines gallery exhibitions, children's book illustration, and private commissions. She has been invited to teach workshops on the new Queen Mary 2. She has been an Artist in Residence in many school districts and has toured for Canadian Children's Book Center Book Week.
Sheena has exhibited paintings at the Winchester Galleries, The Harrison Gallery in West Vancouver, Quan-Scheider Gallery, Toronto, Pegasus Gallery, The Chateau Whistler, Harbour Gallery, Washington US, and the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria .
She has won many awards including the Myfanwy Pavelic Spencer Award. She is an Associate of The Federation Of Canadian Artists. Sheena has been featured on CBC radio as well as CH television.

Sheena has participated in many exhibitions across Canada and in the US. Her work can be found in corporate and private collections throughout the world including: Shell Oil, Chapters Canada, The National Trust Corporation, and the Vancouver Public Library.

She works from her home studio in Sidney on Vancouver Island BC. Her website is www.sheenalott.com.

Sheena is available to do watercolour workshops [all materials provided] and lecture/presentations on the process of children's book illustration. Please contact the artist at sheena@sheenalott.com for more info and fee schedule.

Sheena Lott's profile page

• Nominated, Christie Harris Illustrated Children's Literature Prize