About
Ellen worked in stop-motion and gaming animation until she decided she'd rather be around kids instead. So she went into pediatrics for several years before returning to her first love of art and storytelling. Now she devotes her free time to illustrate and write children’s stories. Born in the U.S. to Korean immigrants, she is unapologetically Asian-American. Having grown up as a latchkey kid, she is quite fond of pizza, bicycles, friendships and mischief. Her favorite books were Grover’s Book of Baby Animals and Alice in Wonderland, spurring a love for puppets and fantasy to this day. She lives in Southern California, where she grows cherry tomatoes, visits tide pools and braves the freeways for good food. Find her on Instagram: ellenjkimart
2023 October: SCBWI SoCal Fall Harvest 1st Place Picture Book Dummy Winner
2023 October: SCBWI SoCal Fall Harvest 2nd Place Portfolio Winner
2023 August: SCBWI SoCal Region Calendar October Winner
2022 March: SCBWI Draw This! March 2022 Winner
