Ann Jonas (born in 1932 in Flushing, New York) is a writer and illustrator of several picture books for children. Her books often use odd, abstract images in order to stretch children's imaginations.
Lived most of her childhood in Long Island. She enjoyed horseback riding, and became a babysitter to help raise funds for her rides. Her interest in art was recognized and nurtured by her parents. Her teachers also encouraged her by allowing her to design and paint the sets of plays.
After many disappointing jobs, she decided to attend Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art. After graduation, she began work in graphic design, and married fellow artist Donald Crews. After her husband was drafted into the army in 1963, they moved to Frankfurt, Germany. Their first daughter, Nina was born in Germany, and their second, Amy, was born a year later in New York.
When they returned to the United States, Jonas continued her work in graphic art, while her husband began to focus on illustrating children's books. Many years later, when their daughters were almost ready for college, Jonas wrote and illustrated her first children's book When You Were a Baby, in 1982, although it wouldn't be published for another nine years.
Jonas and her husband currently live in the state of New York in an old, restored farmhouse overlooking the Hudson River and the Catskill Mountains.