MERRILEES BROWN was born and raised in London, England. Ever since she could pick up a pencil and paper, she has been passionate about making art. She studied for her Bachelor of Arts in Painting and Drawing at the Glasgow School of Art and earned a Master of Arts in Photojournalism and Documentary Photography from the University of the Arts London. Her work has been exhibited internationally, including at the National Portrait Gallery in London for the BP Portrait Award. Spaghetti: A Mouse and His Treasure is her debut as both author and illustrator. The character Spaghetti originated from studies and drawings of her daughter Esme's pet mouse. Merrilees now lives with her family near the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. You can find out more about her at merrileesbrown.com.

"Two pencil stubs make a terrific pair of stilts, an uncooked strand of spaghetti supports an attractive Alexander Calder-like mobile made up of odds and ends, and so on. . . . Brown's paean to creativity comes with a built-in game of "I spy" Her delicate digitally assembled mixed-media art features a banquet of repurposed everyday objects that readers can enjoy trying to identify . . . . It's all in good fun--and good conscience." --STARRED REVIEW, Kirkus Reviews

"The darling story scores high marks in both coziness and creativity, from Spaghetti's meticulous mouse hole to his fanciful inventions, and budding artists or inventors will particularly relish his unusual approach. The softly textured pencil, oil paint, and print illustrations are adorable, and it's impossible not to smile at Spaghetti contentedly lounging on his favorite pasta. An enormously appealing entreaty to find beauty and inspiration in every corner." --Booklist

"Spaghetti's self-assurance allows him to persist, even when others fail to recognize the importance of his vocations. At the same time, he is as flexible as a strand of spaghetti, letting young readers know that being true to oneself doesn't require dismissing other viewpoints. Best of all, he succeeds in combining three different values: collecting, creativity, and love for his family." --Imaginary Elevators

Publisher: Tundra Books (NY)

Pub date: 2025-09-30

Length: 48 pages