Animaps

Jan Chalupnikis a writer, translator, and reviewer with a lifelong passion for books and languages. He studied Russian Language and Literature at Charles University while working in a library, nurturing his love for reading. Surrounded by literature, he naturally began creating his own stories and later joined a publishing house. His career has been shaped by his deep connection to books and storytelling. He lives in Brno, Czech Republic.

Tom Velcovsky is an author and creator of children's nonfiction books. He studied Audiovisual Production at the Silesian University in Opava, where he specialized in screenwriting and storyboards. After working in advertising, he devoted himself fully to creating children's books and comic strips. He is best known for books that introduce young readers to history, science, technology, architecture, and the natural world in an accessible and visually engaging way, and he belongs to a new generation of Czech children's nonfiction authors whose works combine carefully crafted content with distinctive illustration. Velcovsky is the author or co-author of a number of titles, including Famous Finds and Finders, How the New Seven Wonders of the World Were Built, Means of Transport That Almost Changed the World, and The Origins of Sports. He currently resides in the Czech Republic.

Elizabeth Gavril is a freelance children’s book editor, consultant, and member of the Children’s Book Committee at the Bank Street College of Education. She has worked in the children’s book industry for more than thirty years, with roles that have included collection-development specialist and bookstore manager as well as editor. She enjoyed co-authoring Animaps and says: “Animals are fascinating—and can be quite surprising! There was so much I wanted to share; sometimes it was difficult to choose which facts to include.” She currently lives in Brooklyn, New York.

David Sobonis an illustrator and designer with a degree in visual communication and illustration from Bratislava’s Academy of Fine Arts. His work spans commercial, book, editorial, and game design, and he currently works at Pixelfederation studio. Passionate about illustration, he also creates books exploring the history of iconic food and beverages like coffee, tea, and sushi. He enjoys history, reportage journalism, and spending his free time with a cup of tea and picture books. He lives in Bratislava, Slovakia.