Since she doesn't draw or paint, Cynthia Levinson tells true stories about brave people, like Ben Shahn, and the injustices they've faced through words.

She loves doing research, which has allowed her not only to visit Shahn's studio but also to walk with soldiers of the civil rights movement, fall off a tightwire, and read letters in a condemned building surrounded by police tape. Cynthia's books for young readers have won many awards. She lives in Austin and Boston.

Vanessa Brantley-Newton is the author and illustrator of Let Freedom Sing and Don't Let Auntie Mabel Bless the Table (both Blue Apple Books), and has illustrated numerous children's books including One Love and Every Little Thing (both Chronicle), words by Bob & Cedella Marley, and Presenting Tallulah (Aladdin), written by Tori Spelling. Vanessa lives in Charlotte, NC, with her husband, their daughter, and their cat.