FLORENCE PARRY HEIDE (1919–2011) was the author of more than one hundred children’s books, including picture books, juvenile novels, two series of young-adult mysteries, plays, songbooks, and poetry. She may be best remembered for her now-classic The Shrinking of Treehorn and its two sequels, illustrated by the great Edward Gorey. Florence grew up in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, married during the Second World War, and spent her adult life in Kenosha, Wisconsin, with her husband and five children, all of whom grew up listening to the joyful sounds of an old typewriter.
SYLVIA WORTH VAN CLIEF (1920–1974) collaborated with Florence on hundreds of songs for both children and adults, as well as many books, including a series of sports-themed young-adult novels and several titles in the Spotlight Club Mystery series.
SERGIO RUZZIER has written and illustrated many picture books. He was awarded the Sendak Fellowship in 2011. Born in Italy, he lives in Brooklyn, New York. Visit Sergio online at Ruzzier.com.
Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Simon & Schuster
New York