JULIE KOON is a children’s book author, illustrator, and preschool teacher who creates her art using a variety of mediums, including watercolor, colored pencils, gouache, and an iPad. As a former school counselor, Julie often grappled with the tough situations she encountered in the classroom. She turned to watercolor painting as a form of self-care—creating something tangible and beautiful when the world felt broken. Her debut picture book, Struggle Bus, was written at the start of the pandemic and offers a message of hope and perseverance to help children process it all. Julie is passionate about creating books that explore emotions and help children of all ages navigate their big, wide world. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband, and three kids.

Visit Julie online at:
website | www.juliepkoon.com
instagram | juliepkoon

Interviews with Julie Koon:
• https://childrensillustrators.com/interviews/julie_koon
• https://www.kidlit411.com/2022/02/author-illustrator-spotlight-julie-koon.html

Julie’s Bookshelf:

DAD’S BEARD
by Julie Koon
Abrams Appleseeds | 2027

Untitled interactive board book
by Julie Koon
Abrams Appleseeds | 2027

BREATHE A RAINBOW
by Julie Koon
Abrams Appleseeds | 2026 (interactive board book)

YARN THE FARM
by Julie Koon
Reycraft | Spring 2026

CITY FARM
by Julie Koon
Reycraft | Fall 2025
• a Junior Library Guild JLG Gold Standard Selection

“With vegetable-hued artwork that nods to folk art motifs and patchwork quilts, Koon (The Struggle Bus) tells the story of Willadeene, a farmer portrayed with brown skin, who tends her land in ‘the wide-open middle of nowhere.’ When a pale-skinned developer covets her property (‘He bribed. He threatened. He lied’) and Willadeene adamantly refuses to sell, he builds a noisy, bustling city around her land. But instead of following the trajectory of Virginia Lee Burton’s The Little House, Willadeene’s farm becomes a treasured city oasis, in which neighbors gather and community flourishes. Though the farmer once enjoyed her solitude, she now, ‘to her surprise,’ relishes selling vegetables to city folk, portrayed with various skin tones, and exchanging waves with the bus driver. And when advancing years finally force Willadeene to consider the heartbreaking sale of her farm, the community she has nurtured steps forward in this tale of supportive resilience that’s both personal and communal.”— Publisher’s Weekly

“Willadeene lives alone on her farm with several animals for company. Tending the vegetables is hard work, but she likes it. A developer makes several offers to buy the farm, but Willadeene refuses. He continues to pressure her as he purchases all the surrounding land; she won’t budge, and as a town grows around her, she continues to farm. Flat, stylized illustrations present the vegetables in brightly colored sections like patterned botanical prints. The townspeople love Willadeene’s fresh, delicious vegetables, and she becomes a valued part of the community. As she ages, she wonders if she should sell after all. Instead, her neighbors get together to help run the farm, and they all enjoy healthy meals together. A table scene at the end reflects the diversity of the community, which includes varying ages, cultures, skin tones, and hairstyles. Urban farms are appreciated in many cities, and Willadeene is an admirable advocate for the movement.“—Booklist

“Willadeene’s vegetable farm is just where she likes it, “in the wide-open middle of nowhere.” Even when a man offers her a whole truckload of money for it, she tells him that the farm is not for sale. The man, who already owns all the land surrounding the farm, builds a town that turns into a city, and Willadeene goes right on farming. The city folk love having a farm in the middle of their town, and Willadeene adapts to being a part of her new community. Then she grows old, the farm grows wild, and it seems that maybe it’s finally time to sell it. But word gets around, city dwellers pitch in to keep the place running, and the farm is still not for sale. This punchy text that highlights one woman’s perseverance, as well as the goodwill of her neighbors, is charmingly complemented by illustrations with a modernized primitive feel. Peopled with an array of pleasingly stylized, multicultural characters, the book’s backgrounds and images of vegetable plots are rich with patterns that bring to mind textile prints. Koon lets the pictures quietly convey the appeal of the colorful farm amidst the gray buildings of the city. VERDICT A satisfying story that also could be useful for discussions about our need for natural spaces or about what community means.”—School Libray Journal

THE STRUGGLE BUS
by Julie Koon
Kind World Publishing | 2022