Squids will be squids

8 September 1954

Jon Scieszka was born in Flint, Michigan, the second oldest of six sons born to Shirly Scieszka, a Registered Nurse, and Louis Scieszka, an elementary school principal. He attended Culver Military Academy in Indiana and graduated in three years. He then studied both English and science at Albion College, and in 1976 he received a B.A. in writing. He went on to Columbia University's writing program, and in 1980 he received a Master of Fine Arts degree. After graduating, Scieszka held several jobs, including teaching elementary school, writing for magazines, painting apartments, working as a carpenter, and being a lifeguard. In 1989, he published his first book, [The True Story of the Three…

25 August 1959

Lane Smith was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and raised in Corona, California. He spent summers in Tulsa. He attended the Art Center at the College of Design in Pasadena, California while also working as a janitor. He received a B.F.A. degree in illustration, moved to New York City, and began working as a magazine illustrator. In 1991, he collaborated with poet Eve Merriam on his first book, Halloween ABC. He is best know for his collaborations with author Jon Scieszka, including illustrations for several of Scieszka's Time Warp Trio series.