Award-winning author of over two dozen fiction and nonfiction picture books, Linda Elovitz Marshall began writing after teaching early childhood education (with her coauthor of picture book You Sing and I Sing, Rita Abdul-Kareem), raising four children, a flock of sheep, and countless rabbits on a small farm along the Hudson River. Linda loves researching, hiking, swimming, and travel. She and her husband now divide their time between a cabin in New York State’s Adirondack Mountains and an island where no cars are needed: Manhattan! Find out more at LindaMarshall.com

Rita Abdul-Kareem is the retired owner of Nappy Things, LLC, an African/American art gallery and gift shop of over thirty years. She is also a retired municipal city planner for Tulsa, Oklahoma, the “Black Wall Street,” and still lives in the city, where she is a mother of one, grandmother of three, and great-grandmother of three. Rita began her professional career in early childhood development, where she met and befriended coauthor of picture book You and Sing and I Sing, Linda Elovitz Marshall. She now spends her time gardening, cooking, and caring for her mother.

Violeta Encarnación is an award-winning Cuban illustrator based in New York City, known for her vibrant, storytelling-driven visuals across traditional and digital media. Her work spans editorial publications, murals, and picture books, often exploring our connection to nature and each other and inviting viewers to reflect on these relationships. In her free time, she’s an avid plant lover who is always pushing the limit of how much green her apartment can take, and a culinary enthusiast on the weekends. Visit her at VioletaEncarnacion.com and @_Violeta.Encarnacion_.