Joanne Ryder is the award-winning author of numerous children's books about the natural world, including Little Panda: The World Welcomes Hua Mei at the San Diego Zoo. Some of her other books include Bears Out There, Chipmunk Song, The Snail's Spell, and White Bear, Ice Bear. Before becoming a full-time writer, Joanne worked as a children's book editor in New York City. She lives in California.

Amy Schwartz (1954–2023) was a beloved author and illustrator who made more than forty picture books, including Bea and Mr. Jones, a Reading Rainbow featured title; What James Likes Best, a Charlotte Zolotow Award winner; A Teeny Tiny Baby; I Can’t Wait!; Busy Babies; 13 Stories about Harris; 13 Stories About Ayana; and the 100 Things series. From the very beginning of her career, Amy had an impeccable eye and ear for the specific details of the lives of young children, and this gave her books a universal honesty that touched readers of all ages.