Timothy Rasinski is a professor of Literacy Education at Kent State University and director of its award-winning reading clinic. He has written more than 200 articles and has authored, co-authored, or edited more than 50 books or curriculum programs on reading education. He is author of the best-selling books The Fluent Reader, The Megabook of Fluency, and the Daily Word Ladder series. His scholarly interests include reading fluency, word study, and striving readers. He taught for several years as an elementary and middle grade classroom and reading intervention teacher. Melissa Cheesman Smith is an experienced teacher at the elementary and college level with a Master's of Education in Curriculum and Instruction. She is a published author of literacy professional books. She currently lives in Mesa, Arizona with her husband and three children.