Ariyana Gibbon
Author ❖ Teacher ❖ Artist
ABOUT ARIYANA
“What is the message you are giving the children?”
That question was emblazoned on a billboard in one of my most vivid dreams. The entire billboard was made of bright, colorful beads. I came to realize that every bead was a story. It compelled me to return to writing the children's stories that only I can write—stories born out of my own creative journey and personal life experiences.
I write stories and books to nourish the hearts and minds of children: books that strive to leave healthy imprints that will help them grow, books that point the way to become contributing members of humankind who will plant the seeds for a better world.
Every story I write is an answer to the questions I pose to all humanity. “What is the message you are giving the children?” “What is the legacy you are leaving for them?” and “What is the world you are creating for our future generations?”
My stories are my gift, my legacy for the children of today and the children of tomorrow.
Bio
Born on the Island of Billiton, Indonesia, Ariyana is of Indonesian/Dutch descent. Ariyana is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, 12 x 12, and has attended many Picture Book Summit conferences.
As an educator, she taught for over 15 years in San Diego private and public schools, grades preschool through 8th grade. She worked as an “Artist in Residence” with the “Young at Art” program in San Diego Unified Schools for 9 years. While there, she created a series of 100 ft. eco-peace murals with student participation at an Inner-City Middle School.
