"I draw by heart," says Maisy creator Lucy Cousins. "I think of what children would like by going back to my own child-like instincts." And what instincts! With more than 12 million copies sold around the world, Lucy Cousins's Maisy books have been consistently on target when it comes to engaging children. One of the most beloved characters in preschool households today, the good-natured Maisy stars in storybooks, sticker books, a sturdy clock book, mini board books, big flap books, and three-dimensional playsets. Maisy also has her own popular TV show that appears on Noggin seven days a week. Her everyday exploits-- familiar to preschoolers everywhere-- gently usher little ones into an exploration of early learning concepts such as colors, numbers, and social themes. Reviewers have called Lucy Cousins´s Maisy titles "delightful books that reinforce the concept of helping and sharing," while teachers and parents alike find Maisy books to be a bright and playful way to offer a solid educational foundation.
       
   
 

Maisy is a colorful, lovable mouse with a nose for adventure.

Maisy´s birthday is February 10.

Maisy is very much like a human toddler, with a few mouselike attributes such as her ears, tail, and whiskers. But she has hands and feet, not paws!

Maisy has animal friends and toys who share her world, including Cyril the squirrel, Tallulah the chick, Charley the crocodile, Eddie the elephant, and her favorite Panda toy.

Maisy´s adventures are an entertaining approach to guiding children through life´s funny, frustrating, and fantastic moments.

Maisy´s storylines are a safe guide to the everyday experiences that are very new for toddlers, such as making friends, riding tricycles, going swimming, playing in the garden, and "reading" books.

Maisy introduces basic concepts such as colors, numbers, sorting, and matching, while never losing her sense of play.

  
       
   
 

Lucy Cousins is one of today´s most acclaimed author-illustrators of children´s books. Her unique titles fascinate babies, toddlers, and preschoolers with their child-like simplicity, bold outlines, and crayon-bright colors. The winsome exploits of characters such as Maisy reflect the familiar adventures that young children have every day. "Maisy does things that children all over the world do," Lucy Cousins says of her superstar mouse. "The way she dresses, the way she acts, are typical of children all over the world."

With Maisy appearing in more than fifty books as well as her own daily TV show on Noggin, Lucy Cousins continues to create new characters. Where does the prolific author-illustrator-- mother of four young children-- find the energy? "I´m quite disciplined," she says of her productivity. "If I´m having an 'ideas' day, I just sit at my desk and draw and write until I feel something happening-- though I admit that this is usually helped by a cup of tea, some lively music, and an abundance of sunshine." As for outside inspiration, she says she´s sometimes influenced by the work of other artists, especially if those artists are children. Says the author-illustrator, "I get more pleasure and inspiration from walking around a primary school than from any art gallery."

Lucy Cousins works from home in Hampshire, England.

  
 

Click here to see a complete list of Lucy Cousins titles.