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.

Hedviga Gutierrez is a Slovak author and illustrator of children's books. She was born in 1994 in Slovakia and graduated from the literary illustration program at the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Bratislava, Slovakia. She primarily illustrates children's books and picture books, but she has also illustrated books for adults. Her illustrations are mostly digital, though she also enjoys using such traditional graphic techniques as screen printing, linocuts, and risograph printing. She draws inspiration from everything around her and won't leave her house without a sketchpad. She has received numerous awards in her homeland, including The Most Beautiful Book of Slovakia and The Slovak National Library Award.