Arthur Yorinks was born in Roslyn, New York on August 21, 1953. As a child, he was exposed to an eclectic assortment of the arts including symphonies and art galleries in New York City, comic books, and 19th-century novels. He has written over 30 children's books including Hey, Al, winner of the 1987 Caldecott award; Louis the Fish, a Reading Rainbow main selection; Bravo Minski; Oh, Brother; and Company's Coming. He has also written opera librettos, ballets, plays and film scripts. He and children's author Maurice Sendak co-founded The Night Kitchen, a new theater company.
Illustrator, Richard Egielski was born in New York City on July 16, 1952. He studied at Parson's School of Design. He also studied the art of picture books with Maurice Sendak. He was the winner of the 1987 Caldecott Medal for his illustrations in Hey, Al by Arthur Yorinks. He wrote and illustrated Buz and Jazper which were chosen as New York Times Best Illustrated Books for Children. Other books illustrated by Egielski include The Tub People and The Tub Grandfather by Pam Conrad.