I was born and raised in Taipei, Taiwan, the second of six children. When I grew capable of holding a pencil, I started to draw everywhere in our crowdedhouse -- on windows, doors, tables, chairs, pillows and blankets. Wherever I found a space to draw, I never let it stay blank! When it rained and we had to stay inside, I entertained my family with my stories inspired by the splashing sound on the rooftop by the heavy raindrops. As a quiet, shy, and day-dreamy child, being an artist gave me an identity at school and within my family.

After receiving my bachelor of fine arts degree from The Chinese Culture University in Taiwan, I immigrated to the United States. Initially settling in LA, my artist husband Greg and I moved to New York City in 1989. I loved the vibrations and liveliness of the city, plus I don't have to drive. My first job in New York was rendering simple hand-paintings on children's ware for Frogg Fashion. Even though it was only a part time job, I had the precious experience in the children's field: cute patterns, animals, flowers, colors and mediums & those worked for the children's fashion market.

In New York, I met an illustrator named Chi Chung (she's represented by Wilkinson Studios, too) who, at that time was already published in the children's book field. She showed me her published books and collected picture books from her bookshelf. Those books were so beautiful, my heart shook with excitement! Inspired to be a children's book illustrator myself someday, I went down to the children's section of my neighborhood library, falling upon picture books, which, shining like stars, conjured up the storyteller in me from my childhood. Like in a dream! It was a turning point in my life. Soon thereafter, I started to take classes at the School of Visual Arts located in Manhattan, New York City, where I learned how to make book dummies and build up my portfolio. Gradually my illustrations begin to appear in children's publications: trade books, children's magazines, educational books; as well as greeting cards, and wrapping paper.

The most interesting part in illustration is developing characters -- I like to draw people, animals, nature. I think most of my ideas come from my observations and experiences, but occasionally the ideas just pop up in my head and mix up with my imagination. If the story is inspiring and exciting I like to draw everything, even scenes I make up myself. After many sketches and a lot of research, my characters have their own souls and become alive. It is hard to tell whether I come into their world or they join in mine. We become close friends: when they are happy, we laugh together, when they are sad, I also cry. We have to say goodbye when the book is finished, and we miss each other for a long while afterwards.

My husband and I continue to live in our 6th floor apartment in Queens, New York City. My studio is in the corner of my bedroom, which has three windows. I like to sit at my drawing table so that I can look out at the rooftops and the constantly-changing sky above. I feel lucky I am able to keep telling stories with pictures! Luckier than that little girl in the past & I can do it rain or shine.

View artist's personal website: www.yumeihan.com/

	A Big Fish Story
	A Little Jar of Oil:The Story of Elisha and the Widow by Patricia L Nederveld(Author), Yu-Mei Han(Illustrator) Purchase this book HERE
	Animal Family Fun Coloring Book Yu-Mei Han (Illustrator) Dover Publications Purchase this book HERE
	David and the Giant: The Story of David and Goliath by Patricia L Nederveld(Author), Yu-Mei Han(Illustrator) Purchase this book HERE
	Funky Monkeys Stickers Yu-Mei Han (Illustrator) Dover Publications Purchase this book HERE
	Glitter Halloween Stickers Yu-Mei Han (Illustrator) Dover Publications Purchase this book HERE
	Glitter Polar Bears Stickers Yu-Mei Han (Illustrators) Dover Publications Purchase this book HERE
	Glitter Santas Stickers by Yu-Mei Han (Illustrator) Dover Publications Purchase this book HERE
	Lions and Bears!: The Story of David the Shepherd Boy by Patricia L Nederveld(Author), Yu-Mei Han(Illustrator) Purchase this book HERE
	Lions! Lions!:The Story of Daniel by Patricia L. Nederveld(Author), Yu-Mei Han(Illustrator) Purchase this book HERE
	One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven!: The Story of Elisha and Naaman by Patricia L Nederveld(Author), Yu-Mei Han(Author) Purchase this book HERE
	Round Is a Pancake by Joan Sullivan Baranski (Author), Yu-Mei Han (Illustrator) Dutton Purchase this book HERE
	The King's Mapmaker Yu-Mei Han (Illustrator)
	Three Wise Old Women by Elizabeth Corbett (Author), Yu-Mei Han (Illustrator) Dutton Purchase this book HERE