Dr Sylvia Vardell teaches graduate courses in children's and young adult literature at Texas Woman's University. She has published ten books on literature and over 100 journal articles for teachers, librarians, and parents. Her current work focuses on poetry for children, including her nationally recognized blog, PoetryforChildren. She currently chairs the ALA Children's Literature Legacy Award committee. She serves on the Executive Committee of the International Board on Books for Young People and co-edited their international journal of children's literature, Bookbird.

Sonny Ross is a freelance Illustrator based in the UK. He graduated from Birmingham City University in 2014 with a first class degree in illustration, and alongside children's books, he creates editorial, conceptual, and lifestyle illustrations. Past clients have included The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Guardian.