Gilles Pelletier's colourful paintings adorned antique furniture, old tools, and even milk cans for years before he illustrated his first children's book. In fact, it was an interest in collecting and restoring antiques that led him into the world of art. Pelletier's highly colourful work is enhanced by his sense of humour and love of tradition. He, his wife and several cats live in Ormstown, Quebec, in a house reminiscent of the one he painted for A Happy New Year's Day, his first picture book.