My Gift

Raluca grew up in Romania — a country shaped like a heart and brimming with stories. When there were no books left to read, she simply invented her own. Though she studied physics and now works in the telecom industry, she has never let go of her love for storytelling. From her home in New Jersey, she writes children’s books that spark imagination and wonder. When she’s not writing, Raluca loves to read, travel, and tend to her garden. 

Visit her at: www.ralucasirbu.com

Alisa Barannik grew up in Ukraine — a land of wide skies, warm hands, and stories whispered across generations.
In 2022, when war came to her doorstep, she left her home and found herself in Lisbon, carrying only a suitcase and an inner world filled with images and characters.
Before turning to illustration, Alisa worked with ceramics, exhibiting her pieces in galleries and at festivals throughout Ukraine. But in Portugal, she returned to what had always been with her: the gift of seeing wonder in ordinary things. Now she draws stories for children — and for the child inside every adult. She still believes in fairy tales. She travels often, reads endlessly, and finds magic in faces, places, and moments.

Her work can be found at behance.net/alisabarannik