Susan Lendroth combined her daughter's often over-the-top curiosity and exuberance with her fascination with an all-girl taiko drumming group she saw on a trip to Japan to create Natsumi's story. She lives in Sierra Madre, California.

Priscilla Burris graduated from The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, studying Illustration, Design and Merchandising. Since then, she's illustrated several children's books. priscillaburris.com / @priscilladesign / facebook.com/Priscilla.Burris