Born March 21st in Louisiana, Leslie Helakoski is one of six brothers and sisters, a wonderful opportunity for a future author to observe and make notes.

Leslie has a BA in advertising and graphic design from the University of Louisiana, and a degree in media illustration from Northern Michigan University. She has worked in advertising agencies in Madison, WI, Pittsburgh, PA, and Lafayette, LA. She and her husband live with their three children in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Her first published book was The Smushy Bus, published in 2002, a good math book for grades 2 and 3. This was followed by BIG Chickens early in 2006. Illustrated by Henry Cole, it's a story of chickens who are chicken, until they need to be brave. Woolbur was published in early 2008.

Interested in both writing and illustration, Leslie says, "Story and image are equally powerful. My favorite books are the ones where I can't decide if I like the story more or the pictures—the books where I just can't picture someone else having illustrated the text as perfectly."

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