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With her father in the Air Force, Angela Medearis and her family moved often during her childhood. She is the author of over 80 award-winning children’s books, including, Seven Spools of Thread, Picking Peas for a Penny, and Daisy and the Doll. In addition, Medearis’ works include several books about African American arts and Texas history. She also founded a nonprofit organization called Book Boosters, Inc., which develops tutoring programs for elementary children needing a “boost” in their self-esteem and help with reading. In addition to her published novels, Medearis has also written four cookbooks and developed educational videos and television programs for children.

Born in Massachusetts in 1915 to the children of Jewish immigrants, Milton Meltzer learned to read early in life. He does not recall how he learned to read, but does remember days spent at the library reading such stories as The Arabian Nights and Gulliver’s Travels. A full scholarship paid Meltzer's way through Columbia University. After serving in the Army Air Force during World War II, Meltzer returned to the United States to work as a publicist and then a freelance writer and editor In 1946, he published his first book, a pictorial history of Black Americans. Today, he has written more than seventy books, mostly nonfiction books for young adults. Many of his books have either won awards or been nominated for them, and several have been named Best Children’s Book of the Year.

An author and poet of Mexican-American descent, Pat Mora has written more than 25 books of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction for children and adults. Her grandparents immigrated to the United States during the Mexican Revolution. They spoke only Spanish. Their daughter Estela, who was Pat's mother, grew up translating English into Spanish for her parents. Estela raised her daughter to be bilingual. Thus, many of Mora's books contain both English and Spanish text.