Barbara Odanaka is a former Los Angeles Times reporter who left daily journalism to backpack around the world and write children’s books. She is the author of Construction Cat, as well as Smash! Mash! Crash! There Goes the Trash and A Crazy Day at the Critter Café. Her polydactyl cat, Mittens, is much too lazy to work heavy machinery. Please visit Ms. Odanaka at BarbaraOdanaka.com.