**Cynthia Lord *is the author of award-winning middle-grade fiction titles such as the Newbery Honor Book Rules , Touch Blue, Half a Chance, A Handful of Stars, and Because of the Rabbit. She is also the author of the Hot Rod Hamster picture book and early reader series as well as the Shelter Pet Sq...

**Cynthia Lord *is the author of award-winning middle-grade fiction titles such as the Newbery Honor Book Rules , Touch Blue, Half a Chance, A Handful of Stars, and Because of the Rabbit. She is also the author of the Hot Rod Hamster picture book and early reader series as well as the Shelter Pet Squad chapter book series. Cynthia Lord lives in Maine. Stephanie Graeginis the author-illustrator of Little Fox in the Forest and the illustrator of many other picture books, including You Were the First by Patricia MacLachlan and Water in the Park * by Emily Jenkins. Stephanie Graegin lives in Brooklyn.