Doug Cushman was born in Springfield, Ohio and moved to Connecticut with his family when he was 15 years old. Cushman attended a private art school in Connecticut called the Paier School of Art. While in high school he created comic books, selling them to his classmates for a nickel a piece. He also drew a comic strip for the school newspaper. Since 1978 he has illustrated over 80 children's books, 14 of which he wrote himself. Aunt Eater Loves a Mystery is a Reading Rainbow book. Other awards include a notable trade book honor from the National Council of Teachers of English for King Karfu, a nomination for the 1998 Garden State Children's Book award for Aunt Eater's Mystery Christmas and… the 1996 Rebuen Award for Magazine and Book Illustration sponsored by the National Cartoonists Society for King Karfu.