DEBORAH HOPKINSON is the author of more than 50 books for young readers, including My Little Golden Book About Dolly Parton; My Little Golden Book About Betty White; Sky Boys- How They Built the Empire State Building, a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book; and Abe Lincoln Crosses a Creek- A Tall, Thin Tale, an ALA-ALSC Notable Children's Book. She lives near Portland, OR, with her family and a menagerie of pets. BARBARA BONGINI was born in Milan, Italy. She knew at an early age that she would be an artist. She went to an artistic high school and later enrolled in the illustration program at the IED (European Institute of Design). When not illustrating, Barbara loves spending time with her two kids, watching cartoons. She also enjoys going to bookstores and building her own library of illustrated books.