Dr. Mary Manz Simon is an early childhood educator, consultant, media personality, and award-winning author. She has consulted for a wide variety of entertainment entities, publishers, and companies, including Walden Media, Sony Home Entertainment, and the Fred Rogers Company. Mary has also developed materials for leading entertainment companies including work with Charlotte's Web, The Prince of Egypt, and The Berenstain Bears.

Mary earned a bachelor's degree from Illinois State University, a master's degree from Erikson Institute for Early Childhood Education of Loyola University, Chicago, and a doctorate from St. Louis University.

Mary and her husband, Hank, a recently retired Lutheran pastor, are the parents of three adult children and grandparents of five boys.