Leslea Newman is a poet, an animal lover, and the author of the well-received Runaway Dreidel! and Heather Has Two Mommies, as well as several picture books about furry creatures. Machiyo Kodaira is a native of Tokyo, Japan, and a graduate of Parsons School of Design. Ms. Kodaira is honored to illustrate Hachi's story, her first book for young readers.