Janet Chaloux-Baum was born in Maine and raised in Mt. Vernon, Virginia, right across from George Washington's home. She graduated from the University of Virginia and then travelled west to California. Janet is a current and proud resident of Encinitas, California, where she has lived most of her life. She is married, has a son and daughter, a Pug named Taz, and lots of grandpuppies, including Benji. Janet has enjoyed years of volunteering, including serving as the San Diego Chapter President of the UVA Club, PTA President, and Study Buddy Coordinator. This led her from her job in marketing and technical writing to the inspiring field of teaching and earning her master's degree in Education. Janet is a teacher in Encinitas and has been for the past 20 years. She has been recognized as the Teacher of the Year and is a fellow of the Writing Project at the University of California San Diego. She is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators in San Diego. As a parent who had taken her own child to the hospital, Janet realized there was a need to write a book for parents and children who also had to take a trip to the hospital. This story is set in a local beach town and is told through the eyes and hearts of beloved pets. This book is dedicated to children everywhere, who find hope, friendship and healing with help from their families, friends, and medical teams on their journey to wellness. >The daughter of well-known Argentinean artist Pascual Cambareri, Yanina has always been interested in fine arts, concentrating initially, in black and white photography, as well as charcoal drawing. Her favorite medium is now watercolor. She finds excitement in the transparency of the medium and the bold use of color. Her paintings often reflect local landscapes and convey her love for nature. Yanina has always dreamed of illustrating a children's book, and when her daughter spent extensive time in the hospital, she noticed the need for some child-friendly literature for parents to read with their children, which inspired her first book. Yanina is part of the Healing Arts team at a San Diego children's hospital, providing art lessons to patients and their families. She started working at the hospital as a volunteer in 2001 and has been a part of the hospital's staff since 2014. She also teaches art to children from kindergarten to eight grade at a local school, and is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators in San Diego.
