Juwanda G. Ford is the author of picture books and easy readers including the bestselling Together for Kwanzaa. Juwanda started playing basketball at her neighborhood recreation center in New Orleans, where she was most often the only girl in the game, but also one of the best players. She played college basketball and still enjoys playing pick-up games whenever she can.

Jada Jeni Bennett is a recent graduate of The School of the Art Institute of Chicago where she studied illustration. I Like Hoops is her debut picture book. Jada lives in Boston, MA.