Kristi Valiant loves dancing, cooking, red walls, monkeys, penguins, and mice, all of which can be found in one or another of her children's books.

Kristi illustrated a multicultural trade picture book called
CORA COOKS PANCIT for Shen's Books in 2009, and has a picture book called DANCING DREAMS being published in fall, 2010, by Accord Publishing. She's illustrated dozens of leveled reader
books, cover and interior illustrations for chapter books,
and hundreds of black and white line drawings for educational materials. Her
illustrations can also be found in magazines, including Highlights for Children, and on Christmas cards.

Kristi graduated magna cum laude from Columbus College of Art & Design with a major in Illustration. She grew up in Wisconsin, studied in Ohio, moved to Texas, spent a summer in China, and now lives in Indiana with her
husband.

Kristi is an active member of SCBWI.