Heather Androsoff was born and raised in Burnaby, British Columbia. She is an elementary school teacher and has taught Kindergarten for the past 12 years. Heather has a Bachelor of Education from Simon Fraser University and a Master’s in Early Childhood Education from the University of British Columbia.

Heather’s books support children as they develop skills that will serve as their social foundation. In Scout and Kit Become Friends, the characters experience a range of feelings for readers to notice and interpret. The characters are specifically designed to be universally approachable and easy for children to relate to or identify with. Drawing instructions for the characters of Scout and Kit are provided to invite children to interact with the characters and to bring their own ideas and stories to life.

Heather is passionate about creating inclusive spaces that give children the opportunity to form meaningful connections with others. Scout and Kit Become Friends is designed to help early learners sharpen their interactive social tools as they develop new friendships and relationships. The gender-neutral presentation of the characters alongside their inherent differences allows for conversations which centre around diversity, acceptance, cooperation, and empathy.

By coupling easy-to-identify pop culture trends with modern social graces, Heather highlights the importance of children developing confidence in their ability to communicate with others in today’s heterogeneous communities.

Throughout her career, Heather has written nearly 100 different social stories to aid in the positive advancement of various social, emotional, and life skills for children. The resources available through Social Stories 4 Kids are great tools for teachers, parents, and caregivers to use both at school and at home.

To learn more, visit: www.socialstories4kids.com

Cathryn John is a Vancouver based illustrator and designer. She first started illustrating children’s books while earning her degree attending Emily Carr University’s Industrial Design program.

Since then, she has illustrated five more children’s books, has won an international award for an industrial design project and has started her own company. Her creative practice includes a range of mediums from acrylic painting to ceramics to woodworking.

Through her business (Flo. Studios) Cathryn offers clients design, illustration, photography, and arts services. She also helps youth and adults tap into their creativity with painting lessons in private and in social settings.

Cathryn finds inspiration from travel and in nature. You can often find her hiking trails on the North Shore, skiing the local mountains, or walking the beaches. Tofino is one of her favourite places on earth.

She also enjoys connecting with people over a great cup of coffee and hanging out with her friends, family, and her cat Charlie. Though she was definitely a picky eater as a child, Cathryn is now a major foodie embracing and exploring all kinds of foods.

Her passion for social equity and the environment shines through her work and is showcased in several projects. Cathryn hopes to creatively use her skills to help make the world a better place. To see more of Cathryn’s work and to follow current projects, you can find her on instagram: @flo.studios or visit: flo-studios.com or cathrynjohn.com