Selina Alko was born in Vancouver, British Colombia. Growing up in a house with a Turkish father who spoke seven languages exposed Selina to many different sounds from a young age.

Her father also taught her how to paint and gave her a starter course in self-expression. Her mother's involvement in the family's century-old metal recycling business yielded Alko's affinity for collage and mixing media ("trash art") in her work today. Selina's picture books include the highly acclaimed B is for Brooklyn.

Recently, Selina has embarked on a new chapter in her career: collaborated with her husband, the award-winning illustrator Sean Qualls, Selina wrote The Case for Loving: The Fight for Interracial Marriage which she co-illustrated with Sean.

Their second illustrated book, Two Friends: Susan B. Anthony and Fredrick Douglass (by Dean Robbins) came out in January 2016.