Author/Illustrator Derek Anderson drew the very first picture he can ever remember drawing when he was in kindergarten. When he finished it, he gave it to the principal of his school who hung it on the wall of his office for the rest of the school year. Derek's fate was sealed. From then on, he knew he was going to be an artist.

When he reached second grade, Derek wrote his very first story and he's never stopped writing or drawing since.

Derek illustrated Ready?Set.Raymond! by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson and Little Quack by Lauren Thompson, for which he received recognition as a Publishers Weekly Flying Start. Little Quack quickly became a New York Times bestseller and has gone on to great acclaim, winning such awards as the ALA/CBC Children's Choice Award and the National Parenting Publication Gold Award. Derek also illustrated Little Quack's Hide and Seek, Little Quack's Bedtime, Little Quack's New Friend, Over the River: A Turkey's Tale, and The Potty Train. Derek has authored a number of books as well including Gladys Goes Out to Lunch, Blue Burt and Wiggles, How the Easter Bunny Saved Christmas and his newest, Romeo and Lou Blast Off, which is based on a childhood fantasy he had of building a rocket ship and blasting off to the stars.

Derek's next book, Ballyhoo Bay, written by author Judy Sierra, will be published in spring 2009. You'll find the first sneak preview along with information about all of Derek's upcoming books right here at DerekAnderson.net.

Much more of Derek's art can be seen in the Cyber Cheese and E Gallery pages of this site.