Abigail Hoiland

Author / Illustrator / Founder of byDilly

Abigail Louise Hoiland is an author, illustrator, graphic designer, and educator whose work combines creativity, curiosity, humor, and a healthy appreciation for the absurd.

Raised in a military family, Abigail grew up moving across the United States and Europe. By adulthood, she'd lived in 20 homes, had 25 roommates, and encountered enough different cultures, personalities, and perspectives to develop a lasting fascination with what makes people tick.

Abigail earned her Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design from San Diego State University in 2003 before pursuing a career in education. She taught elementary school in California and Arizona, English to children in Shanghai, and English as a second language to adults from around the world. Her experiences in the classroom reinforced something she had always believed: learning should be meaningful, engaging, and, whenever possible, fun.

When she became a mother, Abigail began looking at children's books through the eyes of both a parent and an educator. She wanted stories that entertained without sacrificing accuracy, encouraged curiosity, and helped children make sense of the world around them.

So she started writing and illustrating her own.

Her first book, Auntie Aye-Aye's Fresh Fact-tastic Rhymes, brought science and humor together through playful poetry. Her children's book Giblet, the Chicken Who Crossed the Road grew from her interest in pedestrian safety and helping children develop confidence and independence.

Her curiosity about people also led her beyond children's literature. In Behave, Abigail explores human behavior through true stories about family, relationships, travel, teaching, motherhood, grief, and the sometimes ridiculous experience of being human.

Whether she's writing about animals, road safety, history, or complicated people, her approach remains much the same: ask questions, look a little closer, find the humor, and give readers something worth thinking about.

Today, Abigail lives in Northern California with her husband, two children, two dogs, and a leopard gecko. Between writing, illustrating, teaching, and running her businesses, she continues to pursue the things that interest her, which, unfortunately for her schedule, is just about everything.