Gideon Sterer grew up in the woods of upstate New York. Not too far away, his parents owned a little zoo, where he would run around after hours and let the animals out. He is the New York Times bestselling author of The Christmas Owl, co-written with Ellen Kalish and illustrated by Ramona Kaulitzki, and his other previous books include From Ed's to Ned's, illustrated by Lucy Cummins, which received 2 starred reviews, The Midnight Fair, illustrated by Mariachiara Di Gorgio, which received 7 starred reviews, and Not Your Nest, illustrated by Andrea Tsurumi. Currently, he lives in upstate New York. He likes football, pierogies, portals, archery, and liminal places where worlds blend. Visit him at GideonSterer.com.

Benjamin Chaud is the author and illustrator of The Bear's Song, The Bear's Sea Escape, and Farewell Floppy, and he is the illustrator of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to School. . ., I Didn't Do My Homework Because. . ., and I Didn't Do My Homework Because Doodle Book of Excuses. He lives in the South of France.