Amanda Haley, a freelance illustrator for more than 20 years, designed greeting cards for Hallmark Cards, American Greetings, and other firms. She also illustrated numerous picture books as well as educational and chapter books. Haley graduated from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago with a BFA in painting and drawing. She was hired by Leo Burnett Advertising Chicago as an art director to create commercials for kid's McDonalds. After working at Leo Burnett for several years, she joined the art department of Gibson Greetings in Cincinnati, Ohio. "At Gibson Greetings, I was able to nurture my love of illustration and develop my skills to the professional level," said Haley. Haley was commissioned by Target to develop two product lines for licensing through CR Gibson. One line, primarily for young girls, which included gift wrap, gift bags, journals, designed boxes, etc., was featured on its own end cap. The other line, which ran simultaneously, was featured in the "Back to School" department and included notebooks, journals, pencils, lunch boxes, pencil holders, and more. Haley has illustrated for magazines such as American Girl, Teen Magazine, Highlights, Better Homes and Gardens, and others. Another highlight was her illustration of four print ads in a national advertising campaign for Midol.