Paul Fleischman grew up in Santa Monica, California in a house with a printing press, a grand piano, a shortwave radio, and his father—children’s author Sid Fleischman. Playing recorder in early music consorts led to his books of verbal duets—
I Am Phoenix,
Joyful Noise (winner of the 1989 Newbery Medal), and
Big Talk. His novels built from monologues include
Bull Run, a 16-character account of the Civil War's first battle, and
Seedfolks—the chronicle of the first year of a Cleveland community garden. His interest in theater inspired his young adult novels
Mind's Eye, Seek, and
Breakout, all of which revolve around the spoken word. His historical fiction includes
Saturnalia and
The Borning Room. He's written nonfiction and picture books as well, including
Time Train,
Weslandia, and
Sidewalk Circus.
Alongside the Newbery Medal, he's won a Newbery Honor Book, the Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction, the PEN West Literary Award, the California Young Reader Medal, and most recently was a finalist for the 2003 National Book Award. He makes his home in the village of Aromas, California.
Pam Conrad is author of The Tub People, The Tub Grandfather, The Lost Sailor and Call Me Ahnighito, all illustrated by Richard Egielski, Animal Lingo, illustrated by Barbara Falk, and Doll Face Has A Party!, illustrated by Brian Selznick. She has also written many acclaimed novels, including Stonewords, Zoe Rising, Prairie Songs, and My Daniel. She lives in Rockville Centre, NY.
Eric Beddows illustrated the Zoom series, for which he has twice won Canada's Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator's Award; the Newbery-winning Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices, and Shadow Play, both by Paul Fleischman. He lives in Stratford, Ontario, Canada.