Eileen Christelow (born April 22, 1943)[1] is an American writer and illustrator of children's books, both fiction and non-fiction.

[3] In 1972 the family returned to the United States, settling in Kensington, California, where Ahrenholz opened Colusa Pottery.

[3] Christelow worked as a freelance photographer and graphic designer before deciding to try her hand at writing and illustrating children's picture books.

A course at the University of California’s extension program, “Writing for Children,” taught by former Harper & Row editor Betty Bacon, provided the feedback that Christelow needed to polish two of her book ideas into completed dummies.

The Robbery at the Diamond Dog Diner was adapted for the PBS children's series Reading Rainbow in 1988, where it was narrated by actor Peter Falk.