Thomas Locker was one of the major American painters of the past century. In a career that spanned almost 60 years, he had over 75 solo exhibitions. In 1982, he began work on his first children’s picture book, Where the River Begins. Mr. Locker’s exceptional paintings and illustrations grace the pages of some 30 different books, several of which he also wrote. These unique books have been honored with numerous awards, including the prestigious Christopher Award, the John Burroughs Award, and the New York Times Award for best illustration. Lenny Hort is the author of several acclaimed books for children, including The Boy Who Held Back the Sea. Mr. Hort lives in New Jersey with his wife and their three daughters.