Mary Jane Zakas has spent more than thirty years teaching in both urban and rural schools. She has experience not only in teaching grades K-8 but also in writing curriculum for them. She holds degrees in elementary education, counseling, and administration. Illustrator Roberta Jean Owen has been a painter for more than fifty years. She works quickly using decisive, almost reflective strokes with a minimum of color to express her philosophy of being honest and natural in painting. Some of her work is on permanent display at the libraries in Arvin, Lamont, and Frazier Park in California.