Vanessa Brantley-Newton is a self-taught illustrator, doll maker and crafter. She studied fashion illustration at the Fashion Institute of Technology and children's book illustration at the School of Visual Arts in New York. Brantley-Newton is the author and illustrator of “Grandma's Purse,” “Just Like Me” and “Becoming Vanessa.” She has illustrated numerous children's books, including “The King of Kindergarten” by Derrick Barnes and “Sewing Stories” by Barbara Herkert. Brantley-Newton makes her home in Charlotte, North Carolina, with her husband, daughter and a very rambunctious cat named Stripes. She illustrated Derrick Barnes’ most recent book, “The Queen of Kindergarten,” which is featured at the 2022 National Book Festival.