Jennifer Dussling is lucky enough to have been surrounded by great children's books her whole life. As a teenager, she started working at a children's-only independent bookstore in Pennsylvania, and after graduating from college, she made her way to New York City, where she took a job as an editorial assistant at a publishing company. Since then, she's written over fifty books for kids, both fiction and nonfiction, licensed and original, includingBugs, Bugs, Bugs; Pink Snow and Other Weird Weather; Giant Squid; Slinky Scaly Snakes;andOne Little Flower Girl.Jen lives in Tampa, Florida, and when she's not writing or editing, you can find her in her garden, on a volleyball court, or curled up with a good book. Heidi Petach has enjoyed a number of unusual careers on her way to becoming a bestselling illustrator and author. With a master's degree with highest distinction from Indiana University School of Music, Heidi initially launched a career as a concert pianist and composer. She played concerts around the world, was featured on TV and radio, made recordings, and was commissioned to compose solo piano, piano/organ, and orchestral works. Following her music career, Petach worked in Promotions and Special Events at the Cincinnati Zoo. Her continuing love of animals is evident in all her books. Creating the artwork for the Zoo's brochures and flyers inspired her to enroll full-time at the Cincinnati Academy of Design. A tip from a neighbor connected Heidi with a local publisher and she released her first children's picture book. Contracts with major publishers, including Grosset & Dunlap and Putnam, soon followed. Petach's books have received glowing reviews and have been nominated for awards.The Night Before Valentine's Dayby Natasha Wing appeared on theNew York Times children's books bestsellerslist for five weeks running.