X Marks the Spot!

Lucille Recht Penner was born in New York City and is an alumna of Barnard College. She has written 35 books for children on subjects ranging from dinosaurs to Native American food. Many of her books have been book club selections and two were Boston Globe Honor Books. Mrs. Penner lives in Tucson, Arizona and Portland, Oregon.

Jerry Smath illustrated his first children’s book in 1954 and hasn’t stopped. He has illustrated over 100 books for other authors, and has written and illustrated 30 of his own titles. Two of those, But No Elephants and The Housekeeper’s Dog (Parents Press), were Children’s Choice Award winners. Jerry and his wife live in Croton-on-Hudson, New York, with a dog named Molly.