I Was: The Stories of Animal Skulls

Katherine Hocker is an author, illustrator, and teacher with a degree in biology and a graduate certificate in science communication. Before teaching science drawing lessons, she taught nature studies as a school naturalist. She is passionate about helping children and adults strengthen their observational and artistic skills as they connect with the living landscape through her work. She says, “After twenty years of teaching science and art classes to elementary students, I can say with confidence that no subject supercharges a lesson like animal skulls. At first the kids are squeamish, but as they run their fingers over the teeth and gaze into the eye sockets, they learn that skulls are more than just spooky thrills. Skulls tell the stories of animals that once lived.” Katherine Hocker lives in Gustavus, Alaska.Natasha Donovan is a Métis illustrator with a focus on comics and children’s illustrations. She is the illustrator of the award-winning children’s book series The Mothers of Xsan and several other picture books and graphic novels. Originally from Vancouver, Canada, Natasha Donovan now lives in Deming, Washington.