Maria was born in Holland and grew up in a small town just outside of Amsterdam called Oegstgeest.After finishing high school in Holland, she graduated from George Washington University with a BFA in Visual Communications, and worked for The Coca-Cola Company, first in her native Holland and later in the US.In 2000, Maria's dream of winning the lottery became a reality. She won the green card lottery. This meant she was free to trade in her steady paycheck as Creative Director at Coca-Cola for a life as a freelancer making books full-time. She found herself at the bottom of the tall and knotty beanstalk that is the path to becoming a published picture book creator.Today, with a few scratches to her knees, a twig or two in her hair, and the help of many along the climb, Maria has found her place making books. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her Dutchman Peter and their son Max Pelle.