Biography

Molly Idle is the author and illustrator of the Caldecott Honor-winning picture book Flora and the Flamingo and all of the books featuring Flora and her feathered friends. She is also the creator of the Tea Rex series, The Mermaid Tales, Pearl and Coral, and Witch Hazel. Most recently she co-illustrated Julie Fogliano’s I Don’t Care, with her fellow Caldecott Honoree and best friend Juana Martinez-Neal.

As a child, Molly was scribbling with pencils before she could walk. Upon graduating from Arizona State University with a BFA in Drawing, Molly accepted an offer to work as an artist for DreamWorks Feature Animation Studios. After working on a number of films, she made the move from movies to the wonderful world of children’s book illustration!

These days, Molly lives in Arizona with her marvelous, multi-generational family, two cuddly cats, and a flock loquacious lovebirds. When she’s not making messes in the kitchen or re-watching her favorite Technicolor musicals, Molly can be found in her workshop with a pencil in one hand and a cup of espresso in the other, scribbling away on her next book!