As a child growing up in California, Paul Fleischman liked riding his bike and looking for found objects more than anything else in the world. When he grew up he worked as a carpenter, bagel baker, bookstore clerk, library aide, and proofreader before becoming a writer. His work, which spans many genres, has won Newbery awards, a Golden Kite award, and the Scott O’Dell award, Fleischman does not write for recognition but because he is, he says, "a maker at heart." He constructs his stories slowly and carefully, taking pleasure in every page. Recently Fleischman has begun writing for adults as well as children, but he has no intention of limiting his work to one group of readers.