Michelle Lord is the author of A Song for Cambodia and Little Sap and Monsieur Rodin, as well as numerous science books. She first heard Maria's story on NPR and knew she had to share it with children. Michelle lives in New Braunfels, TX, with her family.

Shehzil Malik is a designer and illustrator who is a Fulbright scholar with an MFA in Visual Communication Design from the Rochester Institute of Technology. She is also part of the International Development Innovation Network (IDIN). Shezil has taught at Beaconhouse National University, worked as art director at Ogilvy & Mather, been part of the Arcade Creative Group at Sony Music in New York City, and served as the art director of a socially conscious startup, Uth Oye!, in Lahore.