Elizabeth Verdick has been writing books since 1997, the year her daughter was born. Her two children are the inspiration for nearly everything she writes. Before becoming an author, Elizabeth edited books for children and parents. These days she writes books for babies, toddlers, teens, and every age in between. She especially loves creating new board book series-including the Happy Healthy Baby(Reg TM) series, which is designed to capture the interest of your littlest readers. Elizabeth's Toddler Tools(RegTM) series helps young children and their parents cope with those tough times and transitions that happen every day (like naptime and bedtime). In the Best Behavior(Reg TM) series, she helps toddlers reach new milestones and improve their day-to-day behavior. Elizabeth also enjoys getting the chance to look at the funny side of life in the Laugh and Learn(Reg TM) series, which helps kids ages 8-13 get a handle on the social-emotional skills they're developing throughout the elementary and middle school years.
She's also coauthor of The Survival Guide for Kids with Autism Spectrum Disorder (And Their Parents) , which offers kids with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) their own comprehensive resource for both understanding their condition and finding tools to cope with the challenges they face every day. Elizabeth lives with her family and five pets near St. Paul, Minnesota. Marieka Heinlen received her BFA at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and also studied at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in London. She launched her career as an award-winning children's book illustrator with Hands Are Not for Hitting and has illustrated all of the books in the Best Behavior(Reg TM) and Toddler Tools(Reg TM) series. Marieka focuses her work on books and other materials for children, teens, parents, and teachers. She lives in St. Paul, Minnesota, with her husband, son, and daughter.