Phil Bildner is a former New York City public school teacher and lives in Newburgh, New York. The author of many books, he speaks at numerous schools and libraries every year.

Loren Long is the #1 New York Times bestselling illustrator of the re-creation of the childhood classic The Little Engine That Could and Madonna's Mr. Peabody's Apples. He has illustrated many other favourites, including Frances Ward Weller's The Day the Animals Came.

Loren has fond memories of creating paper boats with his brothers on rainy days and following them as they floated down the gutters. It was these memories that drew him to illustrate Toy Boat.

Loren lives near Cincinnati, USA with his wife and two sons, all frequent visitors to his studio, where they see the art and hear the stories first.

Loren Long is the author and illustrator of the New York Times bestselling Otis series.

He's also the illustrator of the #1 New York Times bestseller Of Thee I Sing by Barack Obama, as well as the re-illustrated, #1 New York Times bestseller The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper.

He lives near Cincinnati with his wife, two sons, and two Weimaraners.