Mariessa Shein is a first-time children's book author based in New York City. After years of working in publishing and helping shape books behind the scenes, she's now bringing her own playful ideas to life for young readers. When she's not writing and editing, Mariessa volunteers at an animal rescue and fosters dogs—often drawing inspiration from her furry companions and their heartwarming adventures.

Shiane Salabie was born in Jamaica and raised in New Jersey. She graduated from the prestigious Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida. Her drawings are characterized by clean line work and vibrant palettes. “I'm an island girl at heart so I draw a lot of inspiration from the ocean, fish, and tropical flora,” she says. She is also inspired by fairytales, folklore, and nursery rhymes because she read so many of them as a child who “practically lived at the library.”