Jim Durk grew up in Bay Village Ohio, and received a BFA from Ohio University. After working in the advertising industry in Chicago, he returned to his hometown and worked in the children's publishing industry on favorites such as Thomas the Tank Engine, Clifford the Big Red Dog, Clifford Puppy Days, The Rugrats, The Wild Thornberrys, The Magic School Bus, Little People, Dr. Seuss's Cat in the Hat Learning Library, and much more!.