Eva Mendes began writing in kindergarten after a short career in scribbling. She pursued many endeavors at a young age, including hall monitor, student government (however short-lived), and at age fifteen she obtained her workers permit so that she could finally work at “like, most every shop” in the Glendale Galleria. Her early acting credits include Fairy Godmother (third grade), one of the three kings in We Three Kings (fourth grade), and star dancer on the drill team.

She lived in Los Angeles for many years but has since left to concentrate on following one of her non-Hollywood dreams—raising her two children, Esmeralda and Amada, with partner Ryan Gosling. Oh, and from time to time she acts in some pretty cool movies with some pretty cool, creative people. She also runs different businesses and loves to make things more beautiful.

With Desi, Mami, and the Never-Ending Worries, Eva poses the very comforting concept that the big scary monster under the bed is just a monster in your head.

Abbey Bryant is an NYC-based award-winning illustrator with a heart for gentle stories and warm colors. She creates soft, stylized, and textured work perfect for touching visual storytelling and sweet, memorable characters. As a queer illustrator, her work is always rooted in inclusivity and equal representation. Most days, she can be found around the city filling sketchbooks with drawings of New Yorkers or dreaming up her next story.