Marnie O. Mamminga is the award-winning author of Return to Wake Robin: One Cabin in the Heyday of Northwoods Resorts and On a Clear Night: Essays from the Heartland. As a former educator, Marnie has also been a professional essayist and features writer for more than 30 years. Her work has been featured on NPR and in numerous regional and national publications including the Chicago Tribune, Reader's Digest, The Christian Science Monitor, the Midwest Prairie Review, Lake Superior Magazine, Detroit Free Press Magazine, and in several Chicken Soup for the Soul books. In addition, she is a frequent perspective contributor for NPR's WNIJ. The Woodpecker's Song, Mamminga and Parks' first children's book in their Finding Wisdom in Nature series, won two prestigious Eric Hoffer awards: Grand Prize Short List and First Runner Up in the children's category. Find out more about Marnie at her website: marniemamminga.com.

Mary C. Parks was born and raised in the suburban Midwest. These illustrations are intuitive to exploring the awe of autumn days with her curious son, Brad, and young grandsons, Anthony and Leo. As a national and state acclaimed art teacher of thirty-five years, kindergarten through the college level, Mary also published her works in ILLUSTRATOR magazine for four years and illustrated several cookbooks. Retirement unfolded an unanticipated life for this multi-technique artist. While art history, travel, technology, and trends contribute, Mary's art echoes the spirit of her heartland roots. "Art is the voice that uses no words; it sees, listens, and reflects. My illustrations for The Wolf Song in Me were inspired by nature's glory and by reflecting on the enlightening words of author Marnie O. Mamminga. It is my hope that our words and illustrations awaken the imaginative wonder in the minds of children."M.C.P.