David Wiesner is an American illustrator and writer of children's books, renowned for his captivating picture books, some of which ingeniously narrate stories without the use of words. Wiesner has earned the illustrious Caldecott Medal three times, an honor bestowed upon the year's "most distinguished American picture book for children."

In 2008, he was one of five finalists for the prestigious Hans Christian Andersen Award, which represents the highest recognition attainable for creators of children's books.

During his formative years, the last images Wiesner saw each night were the books, rockets, elephant heads, clocks, and magnifying glasses that adorned his room's wallpaper. This decor perhaps sparked his creativity, imbuing it with the dreamlike, imaginative quality often reflected in his work. Growing up in suburban New Jersey, Wiesner's imagination transformed his home and neighborhood into everything from a distant planet to a prehistoric jungle. This imaginative play and exploration of books, such as the pages of dinosaur encyclopedias, fueled his love of detail and admiration for the visual narrative.