Troop Esme

LOURDES HEUER is a children's book author and poet. She was born in Spain to Cuban immigrant parents, then moved to the United States in 1984. She holds an M.F.A. in Writing from the Vermont College of Fine Arts and is an Associate Professor of English at Broward College. She is the author of On This Airplane and Esme's Birthday Conga Line. Lourdes lives in South Florida with her husband, son and three dogs.

Originally from South Texas, MARISSA VALDEZ is a two times #1 New York Times bestselling children's book illustrator and author. She's a graduate of the Massachusetts College of Art and Design, where she received a B.F.A. in Animation. She loves to illustrate stories that are overflowing with humor, wit and totally out-there situations. In her spare time, Marissa gets her illustration inspiration by wandering around natural science museums, watching super-cool dinosaur documentaries and playing with her two fat cats in Birmingham, UK.