Verna Aardema was born in New Era, Michigan, in 1911. A cedar swamp in the back of her house served as her inspiration and retreat as a young aspiring writer. She was inspired to write for children when she had to make up stories to get her baby daughter to eat. She wrote many African folktales because of her fascination with the infinitely diverse continent. Beatriz Vidal was born in Argentina and received her Bachelor of Arts from Cordoba University. Her illustrations have appeared on UNICEF cards as well as in many publications, including The New Yorker and The New York Times. She has since illustrated many books, but Bringing Rain to the Kapiti Plain was her first one.