Bill Martin Jr was the beloved author of more than three hundred books for children and teachers, including the classics Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?, which was illustrated by his friend Eric Carle, and Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, illustrated by Lois Ehlert. Bill was elected to the Reading Hall of Fame by the International Literacy Association. The Bill Martin, Jr Picture Book Award, which is the Kansas State award for best children's picture book, was established in his name in 1996. Bill wrote Armadillo Antics with Michael Sampson when he moved to Texas, in honor of the fun, inquisitive creatures that roamed the woods outside his house.
Michael Sampson taught kindergarten through fourth grade before meeting fellow literacy expert Bill Martin Jr at a conference in Tucson, Arizona in 1978. They established a lifelong friendship and collaborated on many bestselling and award-winning books for children, including Chicka Chicka 1, 2, 3, Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See?, and Armadillo Antics. Sampson often speaks at schools, book festivals, and literacy conferences, where he is known for his high-energy, entertaining performances. Dr. Sampson is a Fulbright Scholar and a professor of literacy at St. John's University in New York City.
Marilyn Janovitz is a professional illustrator whose work in a variety of styles and mediums, has been used in advertising, editorial and textile design. She has created editorial illustrations for The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post and Village Voice among many others. She has also written and illustrated numerous books for children including Is it Time? and Can I Help? for North-South, I Will Try and Score One More for Holiday House and the Baby Baby Baby! series for Sourcebooks. Many of her books have been translated and distributed worldwide. She studied at the Philadelphia College of Art in Pennsylvania and at The School of Visual Arts in New York, where she works today in her studio looking out at the Empire State Building.
