Gail Gibbons grew up writing stories and drawing pictures to fit the words, and wishing she lived in the country. After graduating from the University of Illinois with a bachelor of fine arts degree, she became involved in television graphics. This led her to work on a children's TV show, where her desire to write and illustrate children's books was rekindled. Eventually Gail became a full-time writer and moved to rural Vermont, where she could have a garden and as many pets as she wanted. Gail has written more than 140 books and has made countless visits to schools. The feedback she gets from children is invaluable and often inspires ideas for future projects. Gail and her husband, Kent Ancliffe, have a dog named Wilbur and two cats, named Miles and Davis. They live in Vermont in a passive solar house that Gail's husband built and on an island off the coast of Maine.