With a decade working in the fast-paced world of advertising and marketing, Katiy Woolard thought everyone could use a little more silly, and began to explore hers in the form of whimsical, empowering children’s literature. Woolard’s debut children’s picture book, French Toast Shoes, is the first in a series of engagingly illustrated stories written to remind us of the magic that resides all around and the wonder we can release when we see the world through the eyes of the most creative humans: children. Developed under the banner, “Celebrate Your Silly,” her series centers on strong child characters everyone can relate to and be inspired by, and promotes a society where we are more empowered to celebrate our own unique types of silly-selves. When she’s not bringing syrupy solar systems and butter busses to life, she’s immersed in reading decidedly non-illustrated text for her Master’s in Developmental Psychology, with a concentration in Children’s Media at Columbia University.