American-born children's author and Illustrator who is known for creating strong female characters. Her most popular works include Something From Nothing (1992) and Wonderful Pigs of Jillian Jiggs (1987).
She studied at both Hunter College and the Art Students League of New York and subsequently traveled Europe while making a living as a Painter. She published her first children's book, The Balloon Tree, in 1984.
In 1993, she won the Ruth Schwartz Award for Best children's Book for her work, Something From Nothing.
She died of leukemia in her early sixties. She was survived by her three children, as well as by her husband, Brian Bender.
She and American poet, Malka Lee, both attended Hunter College.
