Laurel Long is the illustrator of many books for children, including Hans Brinker by Bruce Coville, The Magic Nesting Doll by Jacqueline K. Ogburn and The Lady & The Lion, a Grimm story. Her picture book, The Mightiest Heart by Lynn Cullen was awarded the Gold Medal by the Society of Illustrators.

Long's illustrated picture book, The Twelve Days of Christmas was featured in the The New York Times Book Review: "Here's a song whose lyrics everyone knows and that therefore demands something spectacular to distinguish it. This version, sumptuously illustrated by Laurel Long certainly delivers. Each spread has its own elegant palette, elaborately bordered like an early Renaissance tableau, making even three French hens feel like a gift that that might be desirable. An image of nine Botticelli women dancing amid topiary animals and fairy lit trees is sure to enchant."

Laurel Long is a Professor in the Art Department at California State University, Northridge.

Her clients include Dial Books for Young Readers, Sterling Publishing for Barnes & Noble, Houghton Mifflin, Scholastic, Inc., Harper Collins, Guideposts Magazine and Holland America.