Francine Jacobs

Francine Jacobs is the author of 24 books for children, including the Reading Rainbow Feature Selection Sam the Sea Cow, illustrated by Laura Kelly and Lonesome George the Giant Tortoise, illustrated by Jean Cassels. The story of Lonesome George appealed to her because it describes the discovery and rescue of a truly unique creature. She lives with her husband, Jerome Jacobs, in Pleasantville, New York.

Jean Cassels has illustrated more than fifty natural history books for children, but she also has a talent for more whimsical images of birds and beasts and bugs wearing all the latest fashions, as seen in The Mysterious Collection of Dr. David Harleyson. The mother of two grown sons, she lives with her husband in New Orleans, Louisiana.