John Manders studied at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh and later took courses at the School of Visual Arts and the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, where he studied children’s illustration, animation, and life drawing.  John's work is featured in over 30 children’s books and numerous children’s magazines. A pet lover, John organized the Bow Wow Meow art auction that benefited the Animal Rescue League of Western PA, and the PSI scholarship fund. He lives in Pennsylvania.