Marjorie Flack first got the idea for her classic story from her first book, written by her friend Helen Lomen. The Peking ducks in Angus and the Ducks so intrigued her that she began researching them. The Story About Ping was the result. She went on to write and illustrate many more children's stories, including Boats on the River, illustrated by Jay Hyde Barnum, which was named a Caldecott Honor Book. Ms. Flack died in 1958. Kurt Wiese illustrated almost three hundred books for children. Books he both wrote and illustrated include You Can Write Chinese and Fish in the Air. Both stories were named Caldecott Honor Books, and reflect his experiences as a traveler in China where he lived for six years. Mr. Wiese died in 1974.