F. Zia is a writer and an elementary school teacher who grew up in Hyderabad, India. Her stories blend humor and tradition, memories and contemporary moments. Zia, who believes writing—like roti making—requires persistence and practice, wrote this story as a gift to her grandchildren. Zia lives in eastern Massachusetts with her husband. This is her first picture book.

Ken Min is an illustrator and animation storyboard artist. As a boy in Los Angeles, Min dreamed of becoming a dinosaur doctor. After realizing that dinosaurs were extinct, he decided to pursue his love of art. Min still lives in California and enjoys drawing the animals at the San Diego Zoo. His Web site is kenminart.com , and this is the first picture book he has illustrated.

Photo: Ryan Astamendi