The Proud Button

About Danette Richards

Danette Richards grew up in a little town near the mountains in northern Pennsylvania. She has two grown daughters who continue to fill her life with love and adventure. As a child she particularly loved to draw play music explore the outdoors and listen to her grandmother tell stories about the past and sing old songs. Danette graduated with both a bachelors and masters degree in education / special education. She also received a certificate in autism from Penn State University. Afterward she worked as a teacher and eventually as a staff developer and consultant. Many of the students she supported in her work had emotional academic and physical challenges. Seeing them transform struggles to successes inspired her to write her first picture book The Proud Button about a child discovering what shes capable of doing and becoming. Annelies Vandenbosch is a Belgian illustrator who likes to retreat from society with her slightly chaotic head and her drawing materials. She loves creating illustrations with a positive and humorous touch so readers can escape to a different world where everyone feels happy. She hopes that readers will then spread that happiness in their environment. When Annelies isnt drawing you can find her in an uncomfortable yoga pose on a relaxing walk in her cozy village enjoying a tasty meal or making fun memories with family and friends.