Named the 2025-2026 Young People's Poet Laureate, Carole Boston Weatherford earned a BA from American University, an MA from the University of Baltimore, and an MFA from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She has written more than 80 books and has earned many awards including the NAACP Image Award, a Coretta Scott King Award, and a Newbery Honor. She often writes about African American history, traditions, families and music. Weatherford is the winner of a Ragan-Rubin Award for Literary Achievement from the North Carolina English Teachers Association and the North Carolina Award for Literature. A retired English professor, she lives in Maryland. Ariana Pacino is an artist and illustrator based in Los Angeles, California. A graduate of ArtCenter College of Design, she creates vibrant illustrations inspired by fabrics and textiles, blending intricate patterns and bold colors to depict scenes of people and nature. Her love for storytelling is deeply personal; Ariana's mom is an elementary school teacher who shares her enthusiasm for reading and creativity with her students.

Ariana is thrilled that her illustrations will spark young readers' imaginations and inspire them to embrace their passions!.