Patricia Reilly Giff (1935 - 2021) was the author of more than one hundred children's books, including the Newbery Honor Award titles Lily's Crossing and Pictures of Hollis Woods. She spent twenty years teaching in the New York City public schools, and her Polk Street School series remains a popular chapter book mainstay. Some of her other middle grade novels include Genevieve's War, winner of the Christopher Award; Nory Ryan's Song, an ALA Notable Book; and A Slip of a Girl, which received two starred reviews.

Abby Carter has been illustrating since she was eleven years old when she started a card business with her grandma. Since then Carter has illustrated a number of books, including Ollie's School Day: A YES-and-NO Book, the Andy Shane books, and Daddies Do It Different.