Violet's Music

Angela Johnson has won three Coretta Scott King Awards, one each for her novels The First Part Last, Heaven, and Toning the Sweep. The First Part Last was also the recipient of the Michael L. Printz Award. She is also the author of the novels Looking for Red and A Certain October. Her books for younger readers include the Coretta Scott King Honor Book When I Am Old with You, illustrated by David Soman; Wind Flyers and I Dream of Trains, both illustrated by Loren Long; and Lottie Paris Lives Here and its sequel Lottie Paris and the Best Place, both illustrated by Scott M. Fischer. Additional picture books include A Sweet Smell of Roses, Just Like Josh Gibson, The Day Ray Got Away, and All Different Now. In recognition of her outstanding talent, Angela was named a 2003 MacArthur Fellow. She lives in Kent, Ohio. Visit her at AJohnsonAuthor.com.

Laura Huliska-Beith is an illustrator living in Kansas City, MO. with her husband and their two small dogs. Every morning she climbs the pizza-shaped stairs to her attic studio where she tries to create engaging images that help tell stories and connect with children of all ages. You can usually find one of her dogs, Sigmund, on the back of her chair while she’s working, while Charlotte, the other dog, works on her own projects in another corner of the room. When not in the studio, Laura can be found visiting schools and talking about the creative process with students, drinking coffee with her husband and good friends, or walking with Sigmund and Charlotte in the neighborhood.