Lesléa Newman is the author of sixty-four books for readers of all ages including the teen novel in verse, October Mourning: A Song for Matthew Shepard; the middle grade novel, Hachiko Waits; the poetry collection, Still Life With Buddy; the short story collection, A Letter to Harvey Milk; and the children's books, A Sweet Passover, The Boy Who Cried Fabulous, The Best Cat in the World, Runaway Dreidel! and Matzo Ball Moon. Her literary awards include poetry fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Massachusetts Artists Foundation. A past poet laureate of Northampton, Massachusetts, she is a faculty member of Spalding University's brief-residency MFA in Writing program.

Katherine Blackmore is a freelance artist with over twenty-five years of experience as an illustrator, animator, and teacher. Having graduated with an illustration degree from The Cleveland Institute of Art, she began her career designing cards and holiday products. Along with teaching art, Katherine has illustrated several picture books for children. She lives in Orlando, Florida, with her husband, two black cats, some lazy fish, and a tortoise named Walter.