Monica Vaughn-Flam is a New Orleans-based children's author who infuses local flavor and rhythm into her storytelling. Her debut title, The Wheels on the Floats, was inspired by Mardi Gras and her daughter's love of parade season. G-U-M-B-O is her second book and continues the playful celebration of Louisiana culture through music and rhyme. Monica draws on her background in education and her love for the city's rich traditions to create joyful, engaging stories that resonate with young readers and the grown-ups who read with them. Courtney Strickland is a Georgia-born illustrator with a BFA in Illustration from the Savannah College of Art and Design in Atlanta. Her work ranges from children's books to museum exhibits, and her creative eye brings every story to life with charm and heart. Outside of illustration, Courtney sings a cappella and helps run a professional wrestling company just outside Atlanta.