Demi was born in 1942 in Cambridge, which is a city in Boston. Demi learned to appreciate and make art as a very young child because several members of her family were artists. Some of her earliest memories are of spending time in her mother’s art studio. With her mother’s encouragement, Demi learned to draw at a very early age.
As a young adult, Demi traveled all over the world. Some of the countries she visited include Mexico, Guatemala, Brazil, Chile, England, India, and Japan. The beautiful artwork and landscapes that Demi saw in India and China made a big impact on her artwork. Demi used the rich colors and intricate shapes of the traditional artwork of India as a source of inspiration for her illustrations in One Grain of Rice.
Demi has written and illustrated more than one hundred books and has won many awards for her work.
Other Books by Demi
The Magic Tapestry: A Chinese Folktale, Holt (New York, NY), 1994.
The Firebird: A Russian Folktale, Holt (New York, NY), 1994.
The Greatest Treasure, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1998.
Happy New Year!: Kung-hsi Fa-Ts'ai!, Crown (New York, NY), 1998.
The Donkey and the Rock, Holt (New York, NY), 1999.
The Emperor's New Clothes: A Tale Set in China, Margaret K. McElderry Books (New York, NY), 2000.
King Midas: The Golden Touch, Margaret K. McElderry Books (New York, NY), 2001.
Happy, Happy Chinese New Year!, Crown (New York, NY), 2003.
The Hungry Coat: A Tale from Turkey, Margaret K. McElderry Books (New York, NY), 2004.
