About the author and illustrator

Mariahadessa Ekere Tallie, PhD is an interdisciplinary artist, poet and scholar who inspired (and was inspired by) Gordon students during an author visit in 2021. During visits to Gordon, she formed a deep appreciation for librarian Frances Martindale and her talent for engaging young minds. Tallie has been in awe of Ms. Martindale ever since. 

Tallie is the author of We Go Slow (Atheneum Books for Young Readers), which was awarded the 2026 Golden Kite Award for picture book text by the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. We Go Slow was also chosen as a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard
Selection. She is also the author of the Ezra Jack Keats Honor-winning children’s book Layla’s Happiness (Enchanted Lion Books). Tallie has authored several poetry collections and she was featured in Tell Me Another Story, a film about the importance of inclusivity in children’s
literature. She earned a Master of Fine Arts from Mills College and a Ph.D. from Brown University. Tallie is the mother of three galaxies who look like daughters.

Laurel Aylesworth is a children's book illustrator based in Barrington, Rhode Island. Her clients include Familius Publishing and Cricket Media. Recent books she has illustrated include The Blue Canoe, My House, My Family, and Chalk the Walk which won the 2026 Children’s Book Council Kids’ Favorite Award. Her career began in graphic design for print and digital media. She found her calling as an illustrator after becoming a mother, wading knee-deep in picture books from the library. She strives to bring a sense of mystery, magic and tenderness to her visual storytelling. Aylesworth loves drawing stories that center around kindness, diversity and strong female protagonists. She is an LGBTQIA+ ally and welcomes any stories that amplify their voices in the kid lit community. She finds inspiration in her children because they are full of surprises and provide endless facial expressions.