Before she started making picture books, Kari worked in the animation industry as an animator, storyboard artist, layout artist and designer. She has also taught drawing and animation in colleges, and to children at art centres. Kari met her husband, Jeff, when they were both studying animation at Emily Carr. Now they have two kids and live in rainy Vancouver, Canada. In addition to illustrating and animating, Kari mentors students at Vancouver Film School.