Kaz Windness loves to make her readers laugh. Kaz is an award-winning, genre-crossing illustrator and author of heart-warming books for young readers. Proudly autistic, Kaz specializes in character-driven books celebrating inclusivity, grit, and kindness. Her recent books include Swim, Jim!, Worm and Caterpillar are Friends, and Bitsy Bat, School Star.

Kaz is a professor of illustration and curriculum author at her alma mater, the Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design (RMCAD, 2013-present) and founder of The Cuddlefish Academy where she inspires students to tell stories with pictures.