Jess Racklyeft is a Melbourne-based author and illustrator who creates a variety of illustrated things – picture books, paintings, prints, pins and cards – mainly in watercolours. Her work often combines collage – either on paper or digitally assembled – and lots of ink, and for every book she tries to use a new technique or process to continue to challenge and grow, book by book. Jess worked in publishing sales for almost a decade before making the leap to full-time illustration work, and since then has won several illustration accolades including a CBCA Picture Book of the Year Award and designed the 2024 "Reading is Magic" artwork.