J. M. Barrie was born in Scotland in 1860. As a young boy, he loved stories about pirates and magic. He began writing plays as a teenager arid grew up to be a successful playwright and author. Peter Pan first appeared as a character in three of Barrie’s novels. But with the play Peter Pan: or, the Boy Who Would Not Grow Up Peter became a star. Barrie later retold the same story in a novel. This adaptation is based on the novel. Barrie wrote over forty plays and many novels. But Peter Pan is his one story that has passed the test of time.

Cathy East Dubowski is a freelance editor and writer. She has written several Step into Reading^TM books and has also adapted Black Beauty and A Little Princess for this series. She lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, with her husband and children. She has always loved Peter Pan.

Jean Zallinger also illustrated Oliver Twist for this series. A careful observer of nature, Ms. Zallinger creates stamps that feature butterflies for the National Wildlife Federation. She lives in North Haven, Connecticut.