John Nez has illustrated more than 50 children\'s books. He grew up in an artistically-inclined family and still counts winning a remote-controlled dinosaur for one of his childhood drawings as a career highlight. After an artistic sojourn in New York City, which included an art class with Maurice Sendak, Mr. Nez moved to Seattle, where he has lived and worked for over over 30 years. www.johnnez.com Residence: Seattle, Washington Hometown: Denver, Colorado