Ever since author Josh Yellin was swept up in the wonderful world of Dr. Seuss as a child, he knew he wanted to create a magical children's book story. The idea for A Wonderful Walk and its animal characters came to Josh when he was surrounded by marine life every day working at a former job at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. Seeing kids at the aquarium each day, more focused on their phones than on the beauty around them, made Josh keenly aware that we would all benefit to live with more intention and mindfulness of the wonder of the world around us if we just looked up and listened to it. He partnered with friend and coworker, Reid Bogert, to create their story. Josh loves writing children's books as a method of storytelling and creative expression and that it allows him the creative freedom to devise a magical world-where anything you can imagine is possible-and tell a meaningful story. Partnering with someone in the creative process was both inspiring and fun. Josh believes it's important to have story characters experience some form of conflict, embarking on a journey that helps them to learn more about themselves along the way, and where the reader does as well. He hopes that his book inspires young readers to connect with nature in an authentic and accessible way, just by looking and listening to the world and animals around them. When he isn't writing charming children's stories, Josh enjoys hiking, traveling to Alaska, working on his nonprofit Urban Rivers-which helps transform city rivers into urban sanctuaries in Chicago-and his job in Google Research. Josh was born and raised in Chicago, but currently lives in the Bay Area, California with his small dog Moses (who is afraid of the ocean). A Wonderful Walk is his debut children's book. Author Reid Bogert has always been drawn to reading, writing, and illustrating, even as a young child. He considers his love of nature the ultimate artistic inspiration, which is ever evident in the backgrounds and characters in A Wonderful Walk. Reid believes that the most important elements of a great story are to be able to connect to its readers through its authenticity and simple amusement. He hopes that his young readers will come away from his stories with a love and appreciation of nature and all its wonders. When Reid isn't writing children's books, he enjoys painting, drawing, reading, and having fun with his wife and four-year-old son. An avid surfer, Reid and his family live in Burlingame, California where they love spending time outside together and in the wilderness. This is Reid's debut children's book.