Franco E. Santos, MA, Ed.D.
Founder of Santos Press & Creator of Chomp the Chimp
Franco E. Santos began writing the Chomp the Chimp stories in 2002 as gentle, nature-based read-alouds for his young son. What started as simple bedtime moments grew into a mission to create calm, developmentally attuned stories for children ages 3–7.
A former professor of Psychology with a doctoral degree in Education, Dr. Santos has spent more than twenty years studying how young children understand new experiences, manage emotions, and build resilience. His background in developmental science shapes the rhythm, pacing, and emotional clarity of the Chomp series, which is intentionally crafted to support Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) without overstimulation.
Through Santos Press, Dr. Santos is committed to creating stories that help young readers explore their world with curiosity, courage, and calm, stories that emphasize environments that feel safe, predictable, and gently adventurous.
(More about Franco Santos can be found at his website at https://francosantos.com.)
Author bio (PDF for media and institutions)
Marta Maszkiewicz, M.Arch.
Lead Illustrator
Starting with book 3, Chomp the Chimp and the Noisy Night, Marta Maszkiewicz joins Santos Press as the Lead Illustrator for The Adventures of Chomp the Chimp picture book series. Marta is an accomplished illustrator and concept artist with over twelve years of experience in children’s literature and visual storytelling. She brings a rare combination of technical precision and whimsical wonder to the world of Chomp the Chimp.
Marta holds a Master’s degree in Architecture and a Bachelor’s degree in History, an academic foundation that informs the structural integrity and environmental depth of her work. Her signature watercolor style is defined by soft, earth-toned palettes and atmospheric textures that mirror the “unhurried narrative” of Dr. Santos’s prose. By working at exceptionally high resolutions, she ensures that the natural world Chomp inhabits remains crisp and immersive across all formats.
Based in Warsaw, Poland, Marta is an avid traveler and a devotee of complex tabletop narratives. Her work is a testament to the power of gentle, detailed art to foster connection and curiosity. When she isn’t at her drafting table, she is often found in the company of her two cats, Thor and Loki.