Lewis, J. Patrick: -

J. Patrick Lewis is the author of 60 books for children, 50 of them in poetry. He is also the coauthor of three terrific children and four delightful grandchildren. He writes full-time, makes 30 elementary school visits a year, and keynotes at literature conferences. First Dog is his first book with his daughter Beth. Pat, or Grandpat, as his grandkids call him, is married and lives in Westerville, Ohio.

Kelley, Gerald: - Gerald Kelley's work has been featured in children's books, educational materials and short-story magazines. He illustrates for dozens of clients, including Oxford University Press, Random House and Scholastic. Knowing since he was a child that he wanted to be an illustrator when he grew up, Gerald went on to earn a degree in studio art. Still, the art of illustration has been largely self-taught and springs from his interest in visual storytelling. Gerald lives in Denver, Colorado, where he enjoys long hikes with his border collie, Scout. (But he still spends far too much time indoors.)