– a distinguished American illustrator of Ukrainian origin was born in Lviv in the family of renowned architect Stanislav Sokolov. Her first printed illustrations appeared in the magazine October (1978) in Lviv, at the age of fourteen. She studied the art of book illustration at the Lviv Polygraphic Institute (1981-1982) and the Belarusian State Theatre and Art Institute (1982-1986)

Valerie illustrated more than 30 books for children and adults before moving to the United States in 1992. In the U.S., she has continued to work with dozens of magazines, publishing houses and professional art organizations. Her children’s books have become bestsellers and several have received distinctive industry awards, including two gold medals for excellence in children’s book illustration for My Royal Birthday Adventure, as well as two awards for Bella Basset Ballerina.

Since 2005, Valeriehas been teaching illustration and design at the City University of New York (CUNY), while continuing a successful career as an illustrator. She also teaches iconography in the Byzantine-Slavic tradition at the Prosopon School of New York City and writes icons for monasteries and churches  including the Holy Transfiguration Monastery (Boston), the Holy Nativity Convent (Boston) and St. Tatiana Church (New York City).

 Valerie and her colleagues of Ukrainian descent regularly hold master classes on Ukrainian Easter egg painting for University students.

Winner Creative Child 2012 Book of the Year Gold Award – Personalized Book Birthday Adventure

Winner Mom’s Choice Gold 2012 Children’s Picture Book Category

Picture book”Bella Basset Ballerina” by Pretty Please Press illustrated by Valerie Sokolova was awarded Honorable Mention at London Book Festival of 2010 and Hollywood Book Festival of 2010

She was named as «Best Illustrator» by Highlights Magazine 2005.

Awards include:

2012 Gold Award, Mom’s Choice Awards

2012 Book Of The Year Award, Creative Child Magazine

2010 Honorable Mention, The London Book Festival

2010 Runner Up, Hollywood Book Festival

2005 Illustrator of the Month Award, Highlights Magazine                                                           

2003 Finalist, Society of Illustrators Self Portrait Competition

 Picture Books include:

Estimated 2013 Cinderella, Sterling Publishing

2012 Royal Birthday Adventure for Girls, I See Me, Inc. 

2012 Royal Birthday Adventure for Boys, I See Me, Inc. 

2011 Zacchaeus Meets Jesus, Zonderkids Publishing

2011 Elijah and Ahab, Zonderkids Publishing

2011 Krychitka and Kyc –Kyc, Ababagalamaga Publishing, Ukraine

2011 Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand, Zonderkids Publishing

2011 Jesus Raises Lazarus, Zonderkids Publishing

2011 Joshua Crosses the Jordan River, Zonderkids Publishing

2011 The Prodigal Son, Zonderkids Publishing

2008 The Promise, Standard Publishing

2007 Thankful Together, Standard Publishing

2005 Bella Basset Ballerina, Pretty Please Press

2004 The Magic of Merlin, Golden Books Publishing

2003 King Arthur’s Courage, Golden Books Publishing

2001 The Golden Books Treasury of Christmas Joy, Golden Books Publishing

 Educational Books include:

2004 Baby Animals, Hampton Brown

2003 The Tooth Fairy Pays a Visit, Unibook

2002 The Elves and the Shoemaker, Rigby

2002 Cat in Boots, Harcourt

2000 The Goose Girl, Scott Foresman

2000 Eek, Squeak! A Leak! Celebration Press

 Book Covers include:

2002 A Season in Dornoch, Simon & Schuster

1999 The Knight, the Harp and the Maiden, Warner Books

1999 The Long Road Home, Dell Publishing

1999 Mirror Image, Dell Publishing

1999 Bittersweet, Dell Publishing

 Magazines include:

American Health, Angels, Clubhouse, Cricket, Grammy Awards, Guideposts, Highlights, Medical Economics, Lady Bug, Focus on the Family, Baby Bug Magazine, Focus on the Family Magazine, Penthouse, Rosie Magazine, Time Magazine for Kids