Agent: Claire Morance

Driven to create work that celebrates culture, language, and imagination, Julie Klear Essakalli was born in Germany and raised in downtown Toledo, Ohio. She’s lived and traveled across the world, spending fifteen years in Marrakech, Morocco. This experience deeply shaped her artistic vision, immersing her in the beauty of light, pattern, languages, and storytelling traditions. Trilingual in English, French, and Arabic, Julie blends cut-paper collage, mixed media, and traditional drawing to create illustrations that are tactile and alive. Her passion for picture books began in her teens, influenced by Faith Ringgold, Lois Ehlert, Maira Kalman, among others. As an artist-educator, she has spent over 20 years working in classrooms, museums, and creative spaces. Her published works include The Butter Man, an 8-time award-winning picture book, The Animal Spring, a quadrilingual flashcard set, and Mindful Poetry Moments. Alongside her Moroccan-American designer husband, Julie co-founded Zid Zid Kids, a children’s lifestyle brand recognized by President Obama, and Zid Zid, an inspiring play-based pre-K enrichment platform. When not creating in her Cincinnati studio, she enjoys spending time with her family, making art with children, and savoring homemade Moroccan cuisine.