Jane Dyer, who celebrates her birthday on March 7th, taught kindergarten and second grade, using art, music, and literature to inspire her students. When her husband decided to attend graduate school in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Jane took a job writing and illustrating lesson activities for the Boston Educational Research Company. Her gift for illustration was noticed. She has created the best-selling Animal Crackers, illustrated Talking Like the Rain, and numerous books for other authors. She and her husband live with their two daughters in western Massachusetts.