Kathi Appelt is the author of the Newbery Honoree, National Book Award finalist and bestselling The Underneath as well as the National Book Award finalist The True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp, Keeper, and many picture books, including Counting Crows.

She has two grown-up children and lives in College Station, Texas, with her husband.

Kelly Murphy is the award-winning author-illustrator of The Boll Weevil Ball and illustrator of Creepy Monsters, Sleepy Monsters and Romping Monsters, Stomping Monsters, both by Jane Yolen, as well as many other picture books and chapter books for young readers.