Roda Ahmed is a New York Times bestselling publisher and author of the beloved children’s book Mae Among the Stars, which is now in its nineteenth printing. Roda is the founder and CEO of HighTree Publishing, a boutique publishing house that focuses on publishing diverse children’s books. She has authored more than twelve books for children and continues to help authors and illustrators make their publishing dreams come true. Roda was born in Somalia and grew up in Norway. She can speak five languages: Somali, Arabic, Norwegian, English, and French. She currently resides in Los Angeles with her husband and two children.

Chloe Burgett is a children's book illustrator; some of her titles include Cooler than Lemonade, written by Harshita Jerath; Big Bold Beautiful Me, written by Jane Yolen and Maddison Stemple-Piatt; the A to Z Animal Mysteries series, created by Ron Roy and Kayla Whaley; and the Etta Extraordinaire series, written by Roda Ahmed and Charnaie Gordon. She draws children as competent, brave, creative, and resourceful human beings, just like Etta. When she’s not Illustrating, she’s crocheting, playing guitar, enjoying a video game, or writing a story of her own. Chloe lives in the Midwest with her husband, Seth, and orange cat, Pencil.

Charnaie Gordon is a diversity and inclusion advocate, podcast host, and digital creator. She is also the author of the picture books A Kids Book About Diversity, Lift Every Voice and Change, and many more. Charnaie’s blog, Here Wee Read, is where she expresses her creativity and passion for reading, diverse literature, and literacy. She’s also the founder of her children’s literacy nonprofit organization, 50 States 50 Books, Inc., where they collect and donate diverse children’s books to deserving kids in each of the fifty US states. She lives in Connecticut with her husband and two children.