Joanne Ryder has always loved pandas, starting with the very first small panda toy she had as a child. She has continued to be fascinatd by these rare and wonderful animals throughout her career as a writer. She is the award-winning author of numerous picture books, including A Pair of Polar Bears: Twin Cubs Find a Home at the San Diego Zoo; Little Panda: The World Welcomes Hua Mei at the San Diego Zoo; My Mother's Voice; My Father's Hands; Big Bear Ball; and Wild Birds. She lives in Pacific Grove, California, with her husband, Laurence Yep, who is also an author. Mark Graham is the illustrator of several children's books, including Come Meet Muffin! and Where is Little Reynard? by Joyce Carol Oates. A graduate of Columbia University, Graham studied for several years at the Art Students League of New York and has taught at the university level. He lives with his family in Port Washington, New York.