Adam Gidwitz grew up in Baltimore, USA. Now he lives in Brooklyn and teaches kids large and slightly less large at Saint Ann's School. Adam always writes about things that he's experienced personally.

So, while all of the dark and grim things in this book really did happen to Hansel and Gretel, they also happened to Adam. Of course, if you've ever had a childhood, they've probably happened to you too. 

Hatem Aly is an Egyptian-born illustrator of the New York Times bestselling The Proudest Blue, written by Olympic medallist Ibtihaj Muhammad, and The Inquisitor's Tale, a Newbery Honor Book, as well as the bestselling Yasmin fiction series, written by Saadia Faruqi.

As a child, he would imagine shapes forming on the mosque's carpet if he stared down long enough, which then swiftly disappeared and transformed into beautiful patterns when he looked up. In My Mosque is full of those same beautiful patterns. Hatem lives in New Brunswick, Canada with his wife, son, and more pets than people.