MARK TWAIN (1835-1910), considered one of the greatest writers in American literature, was born Samuel Langhorne Clemens in Florida, Missouri. As a young child, he moved with his family to Hannibal, Missouri, on the banks of the Mississippi River, a setting that inspired his two best-known novels,
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Twain and his wife, Olivia Langdon Clemens, had four children--a son, Langdon, who died as an infant, and three daughters, Susy, Clara, and Jean.
PHILIP STEAD is the author of the Caldecott Medal-winning book
A Sick Day for Amos McGee. With his wife, illustrator Erin Stead, he also created
Bear Has a Story to Tell,
Lenny & Lucy, and
The Purloining of Prince Oleomargarine. Philip has also written and illustrated his own books, including
Hello, My Name Is Ruby; Jonathan and the Big Blue Boat; and
A Home for Bird. Philip and Erin live in Michigan. Visit Philip online at philipstead.com.
ERIN STEAD is the illustrator of the Caldecott Medal-winning
A Sick Day for Amos McGee and its sequel,
Amos McGee Misses the Bus, and the
New York Times bestseller
The Purloining of Prince Oleomargarine. Her other acclaimed picture books include:
Tony; A
nd Then It's Spring;
Bear Has a Story to Tell;
Lenny & Lucy;
If You Want to See a Whale;
The Uncorker of Ocean Bottles; and
Music for Mr. Moon. She lives in Michigan with her husband, author/illustrator Philip Stead. Visit Erin online at erinstead.com.
