Josan Callender is an author and a special education consultant with a double Masters in Special Ed. Leadership and Administration. Having taught in the field of special education for 27+ years, she has been a classroom teacher, mentor teacher, teacher consultant and program specialist. Her interest in writing began as she sought to bring content to children in a visual manner - which led her to writing award winning screenplays. Josan is known for her skills in story crafting and the development of innovative ways to teach students with special needs literacy and social skills. She believes that all children can learn-when learning is fun! Mattie Wright, a master story-teller, grew up in Alabama during the Great Depression. Inspired by her grandfather, William R. Zander, who would spin yarns as they sat around the fireplace, Mattie found much pleasure in reading and making up stories for her younger siblings. Mattie Wright's career in storytelling has spanned several generations. She devoted her life to helping her family and others learn how to improve themselves intellectually, mentally and morally. Her story telling inspired her daughter, Josan Wright Callender, to collaborate on a character she created, "The Happy Little Garbage Truck," and a novel about her teen years: the soon to be released Young Adult novel, "Making Do: Growing Up Colored During the Great Depression in the Jim Crow South." Steve Ferchaud creates illustrations for several different projects, including magazines and newspapers, books and artwork for various labels and t-shirts. He has been drawing for as long as he can remember, and his parents say that he never went through a "scribbling" stage. Known for his whimsical art, Ferchaud has illustrated more than 35 books, including the Benjamin Franklin Award winning book, "The Carpenter's Legacy." He also received The Golden Quill Award for best illustrations for "The Man Who Spoke to Cats," and the NCPA Award for best illustrations for "Joshua and Bigfoot." Steve soon will be publishing his own books under Hot Iron Publishing. He is writing and illustrating his book "Gnome Poems." Native to California, Ferchaud lives in Paradise.