Mahvash Shahegh is an author, educator, librarian, researcher, and translator who taught at John Hopkins University until her recent retirement. She earned a PhD in Persian language and literature in Iran, with her dissertation being on The Trace of Fairies in Persian Stories and Literature." She is the author of a two-volume Persian language book for college students, co-authored with two of her colleagues, titled Learning Persian. She lives in Elkridge, MD. Claire Ewart is an award-winning author and illustrator of children's books. Her most recent book is The Olive Tree by Elsa Marston. In addition to illustrating books by such well-known authors as Paul Fleischman and Tomie dePaola, she has also written and illustrated several of her own books, including One Cold Night, The Giant, and Fossil. Claire has received the Celebrate Literacy Award from the International Reading Association, while her work as an illustrator has been included on Best Book lists from School Library Journal and Parent's Magazine. Her titles have also appeared on the PBS television shows Reading Rainbow and Storytime. Claire lives in Fort Wayne, IN.
