Haley Healey is a high school counsellor, registered clinical counsellor, and the bestselling author of On Their Own Terms: True Stories of Trailblazing Women of Vancouver Island, Flourishing and Free: More Stories of Trailblazing Women of Vancouver Island, Her Courage Rises: 50 Trailblazing Women of British Columbia and the Yukon, and the Trailblazing Canadians Series. A self-proclaimed trailblazing woman herself, she has taught in isolated fly-in communities, guided whitewater canoe expeditions, and plays the violin. She has an avid interest in wild places and unconventional people. Kimiko Fraser is an illustrator and historian-in-training. She grew up constantly making—drawing, painting, knitting, sculpting, bookbinding, etc.—and has never learned how to stop. She is the illustrator of Her Courage Rises: 50 Trailblazing Women of British Columbia and the Yukon and the Trailblazing Canadians Series. She holds a bachelor of arts (honours History, major Visual Arts) from the University of Victoria. She works with many mediums to create her illustrations, including watercolour, digital, ink, and tea. Most of her work is inspired by her interest in plants, history, and folktales.
“Huxley's Island Adventure is a calming story of lost and found. The author and illustrator create a wonderful sense of place, guiding us through a West Coast geography and ensuring Huxley's safe return.” —Nicholas Oldland, award-winning author and illustrator of Big Bear Hug and the Life in the Wild series “In Huxley’s Island Adventure, Haley Healey and Kimiko Fraser create a hopeful narrative while simultaneously introducing young readers to coastal flora and fauna. The watercolour-like textures and natural tones of the illustrations perfectly capture the Pacific Northwest's diverse but unforgiving landscapes, leading you to root for Huxley’s safe return to a dry and cozy home.” —Madeline Kloepper, artist, author, and illustrator of Poppy's House (with Karla Courtney), Before We Stood Tall (with Jessica Kulekjian), the award-winning Tiny, Perfect Things (by M.H. Clark), and more “This briskly paced story follows a pet cat who runs, jumps, and climbs amongst lush illustrations of the Canadian rainforest. Through his senses, we observe a beautiful environment, and from his search, we find that being curious can help cope with unpredictable circumstances and maybe even appreciate an otherwise fearful experience. The descriptions and details will make you want to read it more than once.” —Dena Seiferling, award-winning author and illustrator of The Language of Flowers “Huxley, a well-fed houseboat cat, is forced to embark on an incredible journey across a Pacific Northwest Island. Huxley’s Island Adventure, written by Haley Healey and handsomely illustrated with digital paint by Kimiko Fraser allows us to join Huxley as he traverses diverse island habitats through native trees and plants.” —Ashley Wolff, author and illustrator of Baby Bear Sees Blue and many other books “A lush and thoughtful homage to local Canadian wildlife and flora. An educational and immersive read.” —Dorothy Leung, award-winning illustrator of The Keeper of Stars, The Never-Ending Sweater<.em>, and more