A Hen for Izzy Pippik

Before writing and telling stories, Aubrey Davis raised goats, sawed logs and sold antiques. As a young man he traveled across Europe and North Africa, where he discovered traditional Teaching-Stories collected by Afghan writer Idries Shah, of which he said: "These bottomless tales provoked, puzzled and delighted me. They helped me look at things in fresh, new ways." Aubrey began to tell these stories in nursing homes, schools, festivals, libraries and jails, and on radio and television. For 40 years, he told traditional stories to people of all ages across North America. He also taught oral language for 17 years to primary and special needs students. Aubrey passed away in 2022.
Marie Lafrance has spent her whole life drawing pictures, at first to keep from biting her nails, then for magazines, newspapers, posters, billboards, board games and the likes. She also illustrated tons of educational books, and eventually segued into picture books. She studied Graphic Arts and Etching, worked as a printmaker and eventually started illustrating, a career which is not really a career as much as a lifestyle --- she basically lives in her studio, cooking up characters.