Bobbie Kalman was born in Hungary in 1947. She escaped with her family to Austria during the Hungarian Revolution in 1956. The family spent several weeks there as refugees before immigrating to North America. Her book, Refugee Child, is based on this account. She has degrees in English, psychology and education, and has taught at both the elementary and secondary level. She has also worked as an educational assistant for several publishing companies. She is the author and publisher of over 800 books for children. Her books are sought after because she writes within specific curriculum needs, making the titles very popular in schools and public libraries. Her works include The Early Settler Life series, The Historic Communities series, The Native Nations of North America series, The Lands, Peoples, and Cultures series, and The Science of Living Things series.