Elise Primavera has been writing and illustrating books for children for over 25 years. Her illustrations for RAISING DRAGONS (Silver Whistle, 1998) by Jerdine Nolen. received a 1999 Christopher Award, the 1999 Irma S. and James H. Black Award for Excellence in Children’s Literature from the Bank Street College of Education, and an Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award. Newsweek, Sesame Street Parent’s magazine and Smithsonian Magazine selected the book as one of the best of 1998. In 1999 she created her national bestselling book AUNTIE CLAUS which has since sold over half a million copies. In 2004 she was asked to illustrate the Christmas Brochure for the White House. In 2006 Elise wrote and illustrated her first novel, THE SECRET ORDER OF THE GUMM STREET GIRLS.

Her latest book is a middle-grade illustrated novel called LIBBY OF HIGH HOPES, published by Simon & Schuster. MS. RAPSCOTT’S GIRLS, a middle-grade illustrated novel, will be published by Dial in 2013.