Vicki Riske is an Arizona-based author, illustrator, and the creative force behind We Are Puppeteers, a storytelling company that blends children’s books, puppetry, and literacy-rich experiences. What began on a small puppet stage with big imagination has grown into an award-winning creative studio dedicated to helping children discover confidence, kindness, and creativity through stories.
Vicki writes and illustrates original children's books, designs and builds custom puppets, and leads interactive story times that inspire kids to play, imagine, and participate. Her debut book, The Polka Dot Tea Party, celebrates friendship and encourages young readers to discover the shapes found in nature.
We Are Puppeteers also collaborates with gifted artists and educators, including illustrator Laura Best, a Phoenix-based award-winning artist known for large-scale public murals, and Sonia Elizabeth Soto, a bilingual family childcare specialist who has translated several of the team’s English titles into Spanish. Together, they bring multicultural storytelling to life for families and classrooms across Arizona.
Through books, bilingual editions, workshops, and hands-on puppet-making experiences, We Are Puppeteers invites children to step into the role of author, narrator, puppeteer, designer, and performer — turning creativity into a joyful, collaborative adventure.
✨ Meet Vicki Riske & We Are Puppeteers at the Scottsdale Book Festival and discover how stories leap off the page when imagination takes center stage.