Award-winning author Elizabeth Shreeve grew up on the Atlantic coast in a family of scientists and storytellers. Elizabeth majored in geology at Harvard College, where she studied with renowned scientists Stephen Jay Gould and E. O. Wilson and snuck into art history classes whenever possible. While at the Harvard Graduate School of Design, she worked at the Archaeological Exploration of Sardis in western Turkey and fell in love with the wonders of the ancient world. Elizabeth now writes children’s books that celebrate the origins and diversity of life on Earth. When not visiting schools or researching a book, Elizabeth lives in northern California with her family, including Hector the PaleoDog. Visit her at ElizabethShreeve.com, on YouTube at Elizabeth Shreeve Books, and @ShreeveBooks.

Violeta Encarnación is an award-winning Cuban illustrator based in New York City, known for her vibrant, storytelling-driven visuals across traditional and digital media. Her work spans editorial publications, murals, and picture books, often exploring our connection to nature and each other and inviting viewers to reflect on these relationships. In her free time, she’s an avid plant lover who is always pushing the limit of how much green her apartment can take, and a culinary enthusiast on the weekends. Visit her at VioletaEncarnacion.com and @_Violeta.Encarnacion_.