E. B. White, the author of such beloved classics as Charlotte's Web, Stuart Little, and The Trumpet of the Swan, was born in Mount Vernon, New York. He graduated from Cornell University in 1921 and, five or six years later, joined the staff of the New Yorker magazine, then in its infancy. He died on October 1, 1985, at his home in Maine.

Mr. White's essays have appeared in Harper's magazine, and some of his other books are: One Man's Meat, The Second Tree from the Corner, Letters of E. B. White, Essays of E. B. White, and Poems and Sketches of E. B. White. He won countless awards, including the 1971 National Medal for Literature and the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award, which commended him for making a "substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children."

During his lifetime, many young readers asked Mr. White if his stories were true. In a letter written to be sent to his fans, he answered, "No, they are imaginary tales . . . But real life is only one kind of life-there is also the life of the imagination."

Charley Harper (1922-2007) was an illustrator with an alternative way of looking at nature. A conservationist as well as an artist, Harper revealed the unique aspects of his wildlife subjects through highly stylized geometric reduction. "I like to work flat and funny." Harper believed that humor made it easier to encourage changes in our attitudes and heighten awareness of environmental concerns.
There was a rare and delightful playfulness in Harper's artwork. There was also graphic genius. Harper said, "I learn as much as I can about the creatures that interest me, and they all do. I observe them and find out how they interact with each other. Sometimes I paint what MIGHT occur if two creatures happen to meet each other. These situations often suggest compositions that I hope make viewers smile."