Nathalie Soussana is the author of several musical picture books, including " Songs from the Vanilla Trail," Children's Africana Book Award-winner " Songs in the Shade of the Cashew and Coconut Trees" and Parents' Choice Gold Award-winner " Songs from the Garden of Eden." She resides in Paris, France. QU Lan was born and raised in China. After graduating in oil-painting from the China Academy of Art, she moved to France and worked as a graphic designer in various agencies before becoming a freelance illustrator. She has collaborated over the years with several major publishers including Usborne, Oxford and Penguin Random House.