Derek Desierto

At age 21, Desierto started an eyewear line called Derek Cardigan.^[3]

While scrolling on Instagram, author Eva Chen came across Desierto's illustrations and reached out to him to ask if he had ever illustrated a children's book.^[3][4] Juno Valentine and the Magical Shoes was released in November 2018, marking his first illustrator credit.^[5][6] The duo's second book, A Is For Awesome, was released in February 2019.^[3][7] Later that year, Desierto illustrated Chen's Juno Valentine and the Fantastic Fashion Adventure.^[8]

In 2021, Desierto authored his first book, Oddbird, which he also illustrated.^[9][10] Three years later, he published the follow-up book Oddbird's Chosen Family.^[11]

Desierto's animation work has been recognized by the Ottawa International Animation Festival, the National Cartoonist Society, and 9 Story Media Group.^{[12][non-primary source needed]}

• Desierto, Derek (2021). Oddbird. Feiwel & Friends. ISBN 978-1-250-88281-3.
• Desierto, Derek (2024). Oddbird's Chosen Family. New York: Feiwel and Friends. ISBN 978-1-250-86468-0. OCLC 1434648592.

• Chen, Eva (2019). Juno Valentine and the Magical Shoes. New York: Feiwel & Friends. ISBN 978-1-250-29726-6.
• Chen, Eva (2019). A Is for Awesome! 23 Iconic Women Who Changed the World. New York: Feiwel and Friends. ISBN 978-1-250-21599-4. OCLC 1048941554.
• Chen, Eva (2019). Juno Valentine and the Fantastic Fashion Adventure. New York: Feiwel and Friends. ISBN 978-1-250-29730-3.
• Solheim, James (2021). Grandma's Are Greater than Great. New York: Greenwillow Books. ISBN 978-0-06-267123-3. ^[13]
• Tanumihardja, Patricia (2023). Jimmy's Shoes: The Story of Jimmy Choo, Shoemaker to a Princess. New York: Abrams Books for Young Readers. ISBN 978-1-64700-347-0.^[14]