Stefanie Foster Brown is a fourth-generation Cabo Verdean American whose grandparents were the last in her family to speak Kriolu. A former school psychologist, Stefanie spent part of her professional training researching the relationship between language, culture, and identity. She lives in Connecticut with her husband, Eli, their three kids, a dog, and one noisy parakeet. My Heart Speaks Kriolu, inspired by Stefanie’s memories of taking walks with her Papa in New Bedford, Massachusetts, is her debut book. Visit Stefanie at StefFosterBrown.com or on social media @StefFosterBrown.

Keisha Morris is an illustrator living and working in Maryland. What she loves about her illustration process most is creating characters whose personalities jump off the page. She earned her BFA in illustration at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York and mentored with illustrators such as Sean Qualls, Selina Alko, and Dan Santat. When she is not drawing, she loves spending time with her wife, daughter, and two wild cats Elphie and Ollie.