Jerrard K. Polk has been drawing all his life. He received his professional start as an artist at the age of 15 and was educated at The Art Institute of Charlotte. His love of books and poetry was encouraged by his mother, a librarian. Today, he enjoys sharing his fondness for art and entrepreneurship with children. He is greatly inspired by jazz and the dapper fashions of its innovators. He has illustrated several books for children including The Story of John Lewis, Black Inventors, and A Child's Introduction to Jazz.