Julia Cook, M.S. is a national award-winning children's author, counselor, and parenting expert. She has presented in thousands of schools nationally and internationally, regularly speaks at education and counseling conferences, and has published children's books on a wide range of character and social development topics. The goal behind Cook's work is to actively involve young people in fun, memorable stories and teach them to become lifelong problem solvers. Inspiration for her books comes from working with children and carefully listening to counselors, parents, and teachers, in order to stay on top of needs in the classroom and at home. Cook has the innate ability to enter the worldview of a child through storybooks, giving children both the "what to say" and the "how to say it." Carrie Hartman is an award-winning illustrator who's work includes: editorial, children's books and book illustration, character development, advertising, posters, greeting cards, comic books, stationary, and animation projects. She is a graduate of the Minneapolis College of Art & Design, where she is currently a member of the design faculty teaching illustration.