Brooklyn-based artist and filmmaker Jonathan Ashley had his first professional project when he was fifteen, illustrating  his grandfather's book Mathematickle, a collection of math-oriented brain teasers for all ages.  He moved to the east coast to study fine art at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, then to New York, where he received a BFA in filmmaking  from New York University.  His award-winning short film Notes from the Acrid Plain with Burton Hoary was screened at several film festivals in the U.S. and abroad.  Jonathan remains convinced that one day he will receive a call out of the blue from a stranger with a couple million dollars to burn, wanting to produce Jonathan's feature film script.  In the meantime he and his wife enjoy living in the shadow of the Manhattan Bridge, collaborating on various film and theatre projects.  Jonathan is very thankful to Derek and Gina for giving him his first shot at illustrating a Children's book, hopefully the first of many.