Star Time (7 page)

PATRICIA REILLY GIFF
is the author of many beloved books for children, including the Kids of the Polk Street School books, the Friends and Amigos books, and the Polka Dot Private Eye books. Several of her novels for older readers have been chosen as ALA-ALSC Notable Children’s Books and ALA-YALSA Best Books for Young Adults. They include
The Gift of the Pirate Queen; All the Way Home; Water Street; Nory Ryan’s Song
, a Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Golden Kite Honor Book for Fiction; and the Newbery Honor Books
Lily’s Crossing
and
Pictures of Hollis Woods. Lily’s Crossing
was also chosen as a
Boston Globe–Horn Book
Honor Book. Her most recent books for older readers include
Storyteller, Wild Girl
, and
Eleven
. Other books in the Zigzag Kids series include
Number One Kid, Big Whopper
, and
Flying Feet
. Patricia Reilly Giff lives in Connecticut.

ALASDAIR BRIGHT
is a freelance illustrator who has worked on numerous books and advertising projects. He loves drawing and is never without his sketchbook. He lives in Bedford, England.