Award-winning author Lola M. Schaefer has published more than 280 books for children. She enjoys writing both fiction and nonfiction, especially for younger audiences. She wrote the Mittens books for emergent readers, which have sold more than one million copies. Many of her picture books have been translated into other languages from Russian to Korean to French. When Lola is not writing, offering workshops to aspiring writers, or writing side-by-side with children, you might find her gardening, hiking, or reading a good book. To learn more, visit LolaSchaefer.com.

Kirk Parrish grew up on a little island just outside of Seattle. As a youngster, he developed a fondness for scribbling caped superheroes and yearned to one day become a grandmaster ninja. Today, Parrish has (mostly) put down his ninja aspirations and is an illustrator and designer, currently based in Orlando, Florida. Over the last decade, his artwork has appeared in video games, animation, publishing, and advertising. Visit him online at KirksArt.com.