Here she is known as Bibi. It's the name she uses to sign her artwork -- lyrically humorous paintings in ink and watercolor that bring animals and children to life in ways that are engaging and respectful. It's who she is to her friends. It's the name students use in her yoga classes at two international schools. "One boy asked, 'Bibi, what is yoga?' 'Indian ballet,' I replied. 'Ah,' he said, and went away perfectly happy."

Last year she made the decision to make Japan her base. She may roam the world, but living here seems to suit her sensibilities -- and sensitivities -- for now. Japan, she says, has provided choices and chances she might never have found elsewhere. "I arrived with nothing, and five years later have eight published illustrated children's stories in my portfolio. Mind you, two I'm not so proud of."

She can be very proud of "Journey to Rainbow Mountain: An Orangutan Fantasy" (Gakken, 1998), based on environmental issues. It sold 3 million copies with an estimated readership of 10 million. "My dream is to sell the set of drawings to a major museum like the London's Victoria and Albert. Did you know you can go there as a visitor and ask to see A.A. Milne's original illustrations for 'Winnie the Pooh'?"