NYT BESTSELLING ILLUSTRATOR: Jaime Kim’s 2016 author/illustrator debut, Take Heart My Child, was a #1 NYT bestseller. She has also illustrated Kate DiCamillo’s La La La.

TRAILBLAZER ROLE MODEL: As one of the few female cave divers, Jill believes in the importance of encouraging young people, especially girls, to dare to follow new paths. On-sale timed to International Women’s Month (March).

ENCOURAGING EXPLORATION AND IMAGINATION: This picture book celebrates and encourages imaginative play, showing children the unique ways our dreams can come true.

REGULAR SPOKESPERSON AND SPEAKER: Jill is the Explorer-in-Residence for The Royal Canadian Geographic Society and is a regular speaker for children and adults.

BACKMATTER: Includes a note from the author and a selection of Jill’s underwater photos.

JILL HEINERTH is a cave diver, underwater explorer, writer, photographer and filmmaker. More people have walked on the moon than have been to some of the places Jill has explored on earth. She has made TV series for the CBC, the National Geographic channel, and the BBC, consulted on movies, including for director James Cameron, and produced documentaries, including We Are Water and Ben’s Vortex. Jill’s accolades include induction into The Explorers Club and the inaugural class of the Women Divers Hall of Fame. She is also the inaugural Explorer-in-Residence for The Royal Canadian Geographic Society, and the recipient of Canada’s prestigious Polar Medal and the diving world’s highest award from the Academy of Underwater Arts and Sciences.

Author Residence: Ottawa, Ontario

JAIME KIM was born and raised in South Korea and now lives in North Carolina. Although she was a timid child who was afraid of just about everything, she discovered a sense of serenity in drawing. As a grown-up, Jaime finally stopped being afraid of everything, but kept on drawing and painting. She works with gouache, watercolors and acrylics to create nostalgic and dreamlike illustrations, inspired by childhood memories of her family, as well as movies, art, and the outside world. Her favorite things are the sun, the moon, the sky and stars -- which is why they always creep into her artwork. Her debut illustrated picture book, Take Heart, My Child, was a #1 New York Times bestseller.

Illustrator Residence: Concord, North Carolina

Illustrator Hometown: South Korea

One of Canadian Children's Book Centre's Best Books for Kids and Teens, Fall 2021

“With delightful illustrations, this is a calming way to inspire timid children to realize exciting dreams.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Cave diving aquanaut and underwater photographer Heinerth pens this picture book autobiography, which juxtaposes her childhood dreams with her adult achievements.” —Publishers Weekly

"This inspiring picture book encourages readers to explore their world, build their self-esteem and imagine what they can do and become when they grow up! . . . Jaime Kim's luminous art transports readers back and forth through time to see how Jill's imagination as a young girl laid the pathway to her accomplishments and experiences as an underwater explorer." —The Scuba News