Iconic American author Charlotte Zolotow was also a poet, editor, and publisher of over 70 picture books for children. Her work was published by more than 20 different houses (many of which she outlived!). In 1998, the Charlotte Zolotow Award for outstanding writing in a published picture book was created.

Wendell Minor is the illustrator of many award-winning picture books for children, including those noted with Robert Burleigh as well as Wild Orca by Brenda Peterson and the New York Times–bestselling Reaching for the Moon by Buzz Aldrin. He lives in Washington, Connecticut.