Our Story
Helen (Author) and Asiyeh (Illustrator)
“The written word is powerful. Words can transform our understanding of the world, provide children with the tools to cope in different situations and enable them to explore themselves in a non-confrontational way with humour and compassion.”
Hi there and welcome!
We are the creators of Rainbow Hopping Bug books and resources.
We met through our work as Early Childhood Educators and discovered that we both had complimentary passions for writing and illustration.
In 2020, we published our first book Flora and Rainbow Hopping Bug, shortly followed by our resource book, Bushland Flora: A Guide to Mindfulness, which provides educators, teachers, mental health specialists with activities to help children manage their emotions.
Our third book, Crackle & Rustle, was released mid-2024 and is a story about the meaning of friendship, finding our way in the world and celebrating our uniqueness.
Since we began this amazing journey together, we have had many new and wonderful experiences - hosting Author-Illustrator visits in schools, pre-schools and libraries across Sydney, hosting seminars for mental health professionals, taking part in artisan markets and running two successful book launches with over 300 participants.
Our joyful partnership has allowed us both to be creative, collaborative and realise that investing in your passions and believe in yourself is the greatest act of self love.
Love, Helen and Asiyeh
Asiyeh Ansari
Illustrator, Artist, Early Childhood Educator
I am an award-winning children’s book illustrator with extensive experience in the Early Childhood Education profession. I am incredibly grateful that my art has been enjoyed by collectors around the world. Combining my deep understanding of children with my creative freedom, I design and make multi-purpose resources, books and murals for Early Childhood services. These resources inspire children to connect with nature, enhancing learning experiences and transform learning spaces for children.
In the Early Childhood Education sector, I have taken on a number of key roles over the past fifteen years including Child Development Officer, Educational Leader, Senior Educator and Centre Director. Every role has enabled me to extend my understanding of the needs of families and children, which has enabled me to add depth to my illustrations and Rainbow Hopping Bug book designs.
I thoroughly enjoy collaborating with authors, calligraphers, charities and the hospitality industry to produce unique and bespoke pieces of art. In my spare time, I create full scale murals for community spaces such as parks, schools and council buildings. I live with my family in Sydney, Australia.
Helen Lewis
Writer, Trainer, Early Childhood Educator
I have had the pleasure of working with children in both Family Day Care and Centre Based care settings. In my capacity as an Educational Leader, I implemented many projects to enhance early childhood literacy in a way that engaged both child and Educator.
I was inspired to write children’s books after many years of working with young children, spending hundreds of hours delving into the pages of books during story time and seeing first hand the power of a good story.
Creating Rainbow Hopping Bug with Asiyeh has given me the opportunity to become part of the solution to help children gain a greater understanding and mastery of their emotions. I strongly believe in contributing in a positive way to the world and I hope our work with younger children helps them to grow into confident teenagers and adults who have the coping mechanisms they need to navigate life.
I feel extremely grateful to be on this journey and have already had many amazing experiences. I have enjoyed listening to peoples experiences, discovering new communities and meeting like-minded educators.
Proud to be Mental Health First Aiders
We created Rainbow Hopping Bug to help children explore their emotions and, as part of that journey, we challenged ourselves to do the same. We completed the Mental Health First Aid Australia course and the Youth Mental Health First Aid course too, which was highly informative. We highly recommend both courses to help you support and better understand family, friends and co-workers who might be struggling.