Joanne Oppenheim has written over two dozen picture books, including The Christmas Witch. With other members of her family she has created a company that publishes books on the most succesful toys for children, calld the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio. Oppenheim, a child-development expert, is one of today's most trusted authorities on child development and education. She is the author of more than forty books for and about children including Kids & Play, Buy Me, Buy Me, and the eight annual editions of the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio. Oppenheim won the National Picture Book of the Year award in Canada for Have You Seen Birds?.