Susan Miho Nunes was born in Hilo, Hawaii, and lived in Hawaii until her move to Berkeley, California. The Last Dragon , her first book for Clarion, was inspired by a magnificent dragon's head in Honolulu shop window. Chris K. Soentpiet is an award-winning illustrator whose work reflects his interest in people, history, and culture. He was given the gold medal from the Society of Illustrators in New York City for his illustrations in Haemi Balgassi's Peacebound Trains , and his books have been recognized by the American Booksellers Association, School Library Journal, the International Reading Association, the Junior Library Guild, Parents' Choice , Parents ' magazine, and Smithsonian magazine. Soentpiet has a B.F.A.

from Pratt Institute.