Patricia Maclachlan

Patricia MacLachlan is the Newbery Medal-winning author of the much-loved Sarah, Plain and Tall. Lala Salama evolved from a time spent with her son John and his family in Tanzania, where John worked with Jane Goodall, and he and his wife worked on other conservation projects as well. Their daughter Ella was born in Tanzania. Patricia MacLachlan lives in Massachusetts.

Elizabeth Zunon is the illustrator of My Hands Sing the Blues. Of Lala Salama, she says, “For me, the key to falling in love with a story is feeling a connection with the people and places native to the setting.” Born in New York State, she grew up on the Ivory Coast, West Africa, and now lives in upstate New York.