Joy Cowley is the author of more than 400 books for early readers, including Mrs. Wishy-Washy, Mrs. Wishy-Washy's Farm, Red-Eyed Tree Frog, and Snake and Lizard. She has won many awards for children's literature including the Roberta Long Medal from University of Alabama at Birmingham for culturally diverse children's literature. Richard Hoit is a freelance illustrator who works full time on children's book illustrations.