Since her childhood in California, Cheryl’s life has been influenced by books about Laura and Mary Ingalls and Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn. She received her art-education degree from Central Missouri State University and her first job was as a theme park portrait artist. She has also designed paper goods for Hallmark and Current, and has created needlework kits and music boxes. She’s sculpted, sewn (and worn) period costumes and written and/or illustrated more than 30 picture books.

Cheryl lives outside the Queen City of the Trails: Independence, Missouri, with her Scottie, Maude, and two cats: Elizabeth and Merrie Emma.