HARUO YAMASHITA graduated from Kyoto University with a major in French literature. Born in Tokyo, he spent much of his childhood by the ocean. He now lives in Atami, Japan, by the sea. Kazuo Iwamura was born in Tokyo in 1939. He is one of the most famous picture book artists in Japan. His work has won many awards. He lives in Tochigi, where he founded the Museum for Picture Book Illustrations. It stands on a hill named Ehon-no-Oka, which means Picture Book Hill.