Katharine Swanson is a special education teacher who earned her teaching degree with a focus on mental and emotional disabilities. She currently teaches at Porter Road Elementary in Bear, Delaware, and is also working toward her Masters in Special Education degree. Swanson grew up with an autistic younger brother, who inspired her to go into the special education field. Together Swanson and Delacre researched the kinds of materials teachers of special needs children wanted for their students, developed a prototype, and field tested the book with numerous children. Swanson and her son live in Wilmington, Delaware.