Jane Yolen (the “Hans Christian Andersen of America”) has written over 400 books, won numerous awards, and has been given six honorary doctorates in literature. She has always lived near water. As a child, Jane often stayed with her grandparents who lived near the Chesapeake Bay. Growing up, her family lived in Manhattan, an island with rivers on each side. They later moved to Westport, Connecticut, which is a beach town. And as a grown-up, Jane now lives a block away from the Connecticut River in Massachusetts. Of course, she looks for mermaids.

Sally Deng is an author-illustrator of books for children. Her illustrations have appeared in various publications and media outlets, including the New York Times, The Atlantic, and NPR. In her free time, she enjoys hiking alongside rivers, camping next to lakes, and surfing in the ocean. She has not seen a mermaid . . . yet.