The Creators
- Sadie Mueck, Author -
Sadie came up with the idea for this story while sitting on the bench at her local dog park! It was the end of her first year teaching and she was feeling so many different emotions. Relief that summer was almost here, sadness that her students would be leaving her class, and hopeful that she prepared them for their future endevors, when the phrase I'll see them when I will came to her. The story sprung to life right then and there! As a tribute to her first class, and the many more to come she presents Instead of Goodbye.
Meet Sadie, a passionate educator who has turned her life long dream of becoming a teacher into her reality! Currently teaching third grade, Sadie loves to encourage and create lasting memories with her students. Beyond her professional life, she cherishes the time spent with her family and her pup, Bean. She has always been creative and spends her free time crafting or reading. Her passion for education, love for her family, and ability to explore her creative side make her the person she is today!
- Olga Borodkina, Illustrator -
Meet Olga, a self-taught free lance illustrator. As a child, she loved painting and doing crafts and dreamed of becoming an artist. After working as an interpreter for several years, she realized art was her true passion and decided to become a children's illustrator.
Olga loves developing cute characters and creating cozy worlds for them. She uses watercolor paints to bring her ideas to life. Besides making art, she likes hiking, reading and spending time with her favorite pet and best companion Chupi the cat!
When Sadie first reached out to Olga about the book, she fell instantly in love with the story. Olga took inspiration from Sadies real classroom and what the 3rd graders wanted to be when they grew up to create each illustration!
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P.s. The pup in the story is Sadies real dog, Bean! Can you find him on every page?