Mitchell Sharmat, a graduate of Harvard University, has written numerous picture books, easy readers, and novels, and was a contributor to many textbook reading programs. He was best known for the classic Gregory, the Terrible Eater, which was a Reading Rainbow Feature Selection and a New York Times Critics’ Pick. In Mitchell’s honor, The Sharmat Collection displaying the books he wrote, was established at the Harvard Graduate School of Education by the Monroe C. Gutman Library. 

Renée Kurilla is a children’s book author and #1 New York Times bestselling illustrator. She loves drawing nature, animals, and working on projects that require a little bit of research! Some of her author-illustrator titles include the It’s Fall!, It’s Winter!, and The Flower Garden (a 2026 Illinois Monarch Award nominee). She has illustrated many books for other authors as well including Just Because by Matthew McConaughey, Today at School by Jessica Young, Farm Boots by Lisl H. Detlefsen, and the Ada Lace Adventure series by Emily Calandrelli.

Renée has a BFA in illustration and a minor in graphic design from Lesley University College of Art & Design. Before transitioning to a full-time career in children’s books, she was a lead artist at FableVision Studios in Boston for ten years. She currently lives in Massachusetts with her illustrator husband, their nine-year-old daughter, a corgi puppy named Yoshi, and a million stuffed animals.