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Jean studied at The School of the Art Institute Chicago; and University of Illinois School of Art and Design Chicago; where she received her bachelors of studio arts. She is on the faculty of The New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts, teaching drawing, painting with gouache and botanical illustration.
Jean began her work as an illustrator in 1970 with biology textbooks. She has over 60 titles in natural history books for young people, including Armies of Ants, Fabulous Frogs, Chameleons, Creepy Beetles, and Butterflies, all Scholastic Books for young readers; Swift as the Wind - the Cheetah, Orchard Books; Earthmates - poetry, Marshall Cavendish; Once I Knew a Spider, Walker&Co.; Lonesome George, the giant tortoise, recipient of the 2004 Giverny Award, Walker&Co., Groundhog Stays Up Late, Walker & Co. 2005

The Mysterious Collection of Dr. David Harleyson, Walker&Co., is Jean’s first book of fiction, and the first book she has written and illustrated. It has been awarded the Golden Kite Award by the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, for the best illustrated picture book of 2004, and was juried into the Original Art, Society of Illustrators, New York , NY.

The sequel Br'er Rabbit Captured! Another Dr. David Harleyson adventure was released fall of 2007 and was a SIBA finalist for best book of the year.

Two Bobbies:A True Story of Hurricane Katrina,
Friendship, and Survival
co-authored by Kirby Larson & Mary Nethery
illustrated by Jean Cassels
Walker Books
Was Released August 2008

Jean studied at The School of the Art Institute Chicago; and University of Illinois School of Art and Design Chicago; where she received her bachelors of studio arts. She is on the faculty of The New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts, teaching drawing, painting with gouache and botanical illustration. Jean began her work as an illustrator in 1970 with biology textbooks. She has over 60 titles in nat... More