FRANCESCA MAHANEY is a biracial (Filipino-American) illustrator based in Massachusetts. Francesca enjoys illustrating for magazines, books, educational materials, and beyond. She has an A.S. in Visual Arts and a B.F.A. in Communications Design from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York. The Inside Scouts by Mitali Banerjee Ruths is her debut early reader series.

MITALI BANERJEE RUTHS grew up in Houston, Texas, and dreamed of becoming an astronaut someday. She has worked as a babysitter, an ice cream seller, and a medical doctor. She is the author of the picture book Archie Celebrates Diwali, the Scholastic Branches early chapter book series The Party Diaries, and the Scholastic Acorn early reader series The Inside Scouts. Mitali lives in Canada with her husband, three kids, and their dog, Tux.