About the Author
About the Author Dorothy Van Kirk, a Phi Beta Kappa and Magna Cum Laude graduate from Colorado State University, has been captivating young readers since 2012. Starting with Dusty the Christmas Star, published in 2012 and illustrated by her granddaughters in Australia, her stories, now paired with Illustrator Trish Muscarello, blend heartfelt lessons with whimsical charm. The Duck Showed Up, published in 2021, Lurk the Lavender Leopard, published in 2022, Izzabella Pinafore, published in 2023, and Does My Lizard Really Like Me, published in 2024 are illustrated by Trish Muscarello as well. Born in the Bronx and now residing in Colorado, Dorothy’s childhood dream was to craft children’s tales, a dream realized with every book she publishes. About the Illustrator Trish Muscarello, a Valparaiso University and University of Illinois alumna, started her career in Medical Arts, creating an Atlas in Oral Surgery and juried trial exhibits. Transitioning her expertise to children’s literature, she has illustrated beloved titles like The Duck Showed Up, Lurk the Lavender Leopard, Izzabella Pinafore, and Does My Lizard Really Like Me. Artistry and travel fuel her passion.
About the Author
About the Author Dorothy Van Kirk, a Phi Beta Kappa and Magna Cum Laude graduate from Colorado State University, has been captivating young readers since 2012. Starting with Dusty the Christmas Star, published in 2012 and illustrated by her granddaughters in Australia, her stories, now paired with Illustrator Trish Muscarello, blend heartfelt lessons with whimsical charm. The Duck Showed Up, published in 2021, Lurk the Lavender Leopard, published in 2022, Izzabella Pinafore, published in 2023, and Does My Lizard Really Like Me, published in 2024 are illustrated by Trish Muscarello as well. Born in the Bronx and now residing in Colorado, Dorothy’s childhood dream was to craft children’s tales, a dream realized with every book she publishes. About the Illustrator Trish Muscarello, a Valparaiso University and University of Illinois alumna, started her career in Medical Arts, creating an Atlas in Oral Surgery and juried trial exhibits. Transitioning her expertise to children’s literature, she has illustrated beloved titles like The Duck Showed Up, Lurk the Lavender Leopard, Izzabella Pinafore, and Does My Lizard Really Like Me. Artistry and travel fuel her passion.