Marilynn Reynolds is the bestselling author of a number of children’s picture books, including A Present for Mrs Kazinski, The Prairie Fire, The New Land, A Dog for a Friend and The Name of the Child, published in 2002. Her book Goodbye to Griffiths Street won the Christie Harris Award in 2005. Marilynn Reynolds was born in Sudbury, Ontario, but has spent most of her life on the Prairies. This life, combined with her mother's and grandparents' experiences growing up in wide-open spaces, gave her a wealth of story material and a unique look at early Canadian life.

Stephen McCallum is the illustrator of a number of children’s picture books, including A Dog for a Friend, The Good Companion and The New Land. Stephen is also an award winning Animator and Art Director and has worked with various studios around the world including The National Film Board of Canada, Disney Interactive and Hannah Barbara.