When I was seven years old my best friend, author Leslie Hayashi, saw a picture I drew and told me she’d write the stories and I would do the illustrations. Decades later she sent me her stories and I learned to paint for her. I have illustrated seven children's books and more are in progress. See FablesfromtheFriends!

Kathy (right) with childhood friend Leslie.

I'm a self taught artist and received my first contract to illustrate a children's book two years after I began painting. I love watercolors and have recently started adding colored pencil and ink to my paintings. In August 2009 I won the Ezra Jack Keats Kerlan Collection Memorial Fellowship to study at the Children's Literature Research Collection at the University of Minnesota. I was in book heaven.

Parents and educators are drawn to our four books of fables because they promote character education through morals. The cheating crab learns: Winning doesn't always mean finishing first. Mean squids learn: Name callers give themselves a bad name.

I've taught art in California, Arizona, Hawaii, Mexico and El Salvador. Thousands of children have laughed at my puppets and learned about book illustration in my school visits. Their minds open up when I paint with my shoe. I graduated from Stanford University and enjoy learning at Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators workshops.

"Kathy blessed our church with her artistic gifts. She involved children, teens and adults in creating works of art all around campus -- gorgeous murals, advent banners, a peace pole and tile benches. Everyone had fun and we love seeing their art!"  Susan Moran, Shepherd of the Hills Church, Phoenix

Kathy with art classes in Mexico and El Salvador.

Six year old Juan Carlos drew these palms and burro.

ALL IMAGES COPYRIGHT 2008 Kathleen Wong Bishop