Based on the incredible life of the pioneering, feminist and queer artist Rosa Bonheur, this story depicts Rosa's early years and her drive to fight for her dreams.

Rosa Bonheur loved to draw animals. She was good at it too! Unfortunately, in nineteenth-century France, girls were not allowed to be artists. But Rosa didn't let that stop her. In this fictionalized account of her early life in Paris, Rosa studies art at home, bringing a menagerie of animals into the apartment to study up close. When she is kicked out of the horse market for sneaking in wearing boys clothing, Rosa must think creatively to challenge the rules in pursuit of her dream of becoming a world-class realist painter and artist.

(From Orca Book Publishers)

Mireille Messier is a Montreal-born, Ottawa-raised and now Toronto-based award-winning children's writer. She has a background in broadcasting and theater, and has published over thirty children's books for all ages, including the nonfiction picture book Sergeant Billy: The True Story of the Goat Who Went to War. The Branch was nominated for Shining Willow and Blue Spruce Awards and the Governor General's Literary Award.

Anna Bron was born in Russia and immigrated to Canada when she was nine years old. She studied traditional hand-drawn animation at Sheridan College. She works on illustrating children's books, magazines, and animating, designing and directing commercials and short films. She lives in Vancouver.