Chris Soentpiet (SOON-peet) is the recipient of the NCAA Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work and Parent’s Magazine Best Book of the Year for Something Beautiful. His other prestigious honors include the International Reading Association Book Award, for More Than Anything Else, Molly Bannaky and Coolies, which also won the Parents’ Choice Gold Award. Peacebound Trains was awarded a gold medal from the Society of Illustrators. Chris’ stunning realistic watercolor plays with the illumination of light. A Korean-born adoptee, Chris’ multicultural background and experiences are reflected in his choices of distinct cultural and historical settings for his books. To promote the love of children’s literature and the arts, Chris enjoys speaking at schools and conferences across the country.