James Patterson is the most popular storyteller of our time. He is the creator of unforgettable characters and series, including Maximum Ride, Middle School, Treasure Hunters, and Jacky Ha-Ha. He holds the Guinness World Record for the most #1 New York Times bestsellers, and his books have sold more than 400 million copies worldwide. He has received an Edgar Award, nine Emmy Awards, the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation, and the National Humanities Medal.

A tireless champion of the power of books and reading, Patterson created a children's book imprint, JIMMY Patterson, whose mission is simple: "We want every kid who finishes a JIMMY book to say, 'PLEASE GIVE ME ANOTHER BOOK.'" He has donated more than three million books to students and soldiers and funds over four hundred Teacher and Writer Education Scholarships at twenty-one colleges and universities. He also supports forty thousand school libraries and has donated millions of dollars to independent bookstores. Patterson invests proceeds from the sales of JIMMY Patterson Books in pro-reading initiatives.

Joe Kulka is an award-winning picture book creator. He has illustrated over twenty books for children and, working for the USDA Forest Service, is the artist behind national icons Smokey Bear and Woodsy Owl. Joe teaches illustration at Moore College of Art & Design. He invites you to visit him online at joekulka.com.