Maria Diaz Strom makes her debut as an author and illustrator with Rainbow Joe and Me. A native of Portland, Oregon, she studied art at Portland State University and has illustrated several children's educational books. Until recently, Ms. Strom taught art at the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired. She was inspired to create this book by her students and by her husband's love of jazz. She and her husband now live in San Francisco.