Jon Scieszka is the National Ambassador for Children's Literature emeritus and the bestselling author of more than twenty-five books for kids, including The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales, Math Curse, Robot Zot!, and the Time Warp Trio series. Jon founded Guys Read to encourage a passion for reading among young boys, with the philosophy that boys love to read most when they are reading things they love. A former elementary school teacher, Jon lives in Brooklyn with his family. For more great books, more great facts, and more about your favorite authors, head over to www.guysread.com. You'll be glad you did. Christopher Healy is the author of the acclaimed The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom-which won a place on several best of the year lists, including those of the New York Times, Amazon, and Kirkus Reviews-and its two sequels, The Hero's Guide to Storming the Castle and The Hero's Guide to Being an Outlaw. The series is currently in film development with Fox Animation/Blue Sky Studios. He lives with his wife and children in New Jersey. Sharon Creech has written twenty books for young people and is published in over twenty languages. Her books have received awards in both the U.S. and abroad, including the Newbery Medal for Walk Two Moons, the Newbery Honor for The Wanderer, and Great Britain's Carnegie Medal for Ruby Holler. Before beginning her writing career, Sharon Creech taught English for fifteen years in England and Switzerland. She and her husband now live in Maine, "lured there by our grandchildren," Creech says. "Moo was inspired by our mutual love of Maine and by our granddaughter's involvement in a local 4-H program. We have all been enchanted with the charms of cows." www.sharoncreech.com Deborah Hopkinson is the award-winning author of many books for young readers, including Michelle, also illustrated by AG Ford; Stagecoach Sal, illustrated by Carson Ellis; Abe Lincoln Crosses a Creek, illustrated by John Hendrix; Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt, illustrated by James Ransome and winner of the IRA Award; and i>Apples to Oregon, illustrated by Nancy Carpenter and winner of the Golden Kite Award. She lives near Portland, Oregon. Mary Kuryla and Eugene Yelchin stay at home to make picture books for children. All day long Mary writes in her writing studio and Eugene paints in his painting studio. Then they drink tea with honey in their garden. They talk about their sons, Isaac and Ezra, and they talk about books. And this makes them feel cozy and safe. But sometimes they have to leave their house and meet new people. And this is when they often feel like Emma in this book. Mary and Eugene live and work in California. Jack Gantos is the celebrated author of Joey Pigza Loses Control, a Newbery Honor Book. He is also the author of the popular picture books about Rotten Ralph, and Jack's Black Book, the latest in his acclaimed series of semi-autobiographical story collections featuring his alter ego, Jack Henry. Mr. Gantos lives with his wife and daughter in Boston, Massachusetts.