Lummi Islander joins ranks of authors and illustrators of children's books

At age 30, Nadia Krilanovich is still young, but she's old enough to testify to the value of patience and persistence.

A native of Santa Cruz, Calif., she moved to Bellingham a dozen years ago to study art at Western Washington University, with the hope of illustrating children's books. Now she has done it, thanks, in part, to her way with words.

"Moon Child" - in which otters, raccoons and owls play with, and are comforted by, a full moon - came out in October. She has another title, "Chicken, Chicken, Duck!" coming out next spring, both from a division of Random House.