Warren Hanson is an artist, writer, speaker, and musician. His book THE NEXT PLACE (1997) has sold more than 600,000 copies. He is the illustrator of Tom Hegg's classic A CUP OF CHRISTMAS TEA, the PEEF series, and many others. And he is a popular speaker for adult groups and elementary schools. He has spoken at reading and literacy conferences across the country, presented programs for hundreds of church groups, volunteer banquets, and other gatherings, and has enlightened and delighted tens of thousands of schoolchildren. Warren is a native of Yankton, South Dakota. He now lives and works in Houston, Texas. Jim LaMarche is an award-winning illustrator of many beloved books, including THE RAINBABIES, which earned him international acclaim. His illustrations "indicate a deep kind of thinking about illustration in children's books," said the NEW YORK TIMES. He also illustrated THE CAROUSEL and ALBERT, which were both named NEW YORK TIMES Best Illustrated Books. He lives with his family in Santa Cruz, California.