Children's book author and illustrator Thacher Hurd was born in Vermont on March 6, 1949 to children's book creators Clement and Edith Thacher Hurd. He attended the California College of Arts and Crafts. He has written and illustrated over twenty-five children's books, including Mystery on the Docks and Mama Don't Allow, which were both Reading Rainbow feature selections. He currently lives in Berkeley, California with his wife.