Alice Low of Briarcliff Manor has published twenty-six books for children of all ages, from picture books to a short story collection for young adults. Her early books were in verse, and she continues to write in both prose and verse. Her work has been published in Japan, England, and in Canada (in both English and French), as well as in the U.S.

She is the recipient of numerous awards. At Jasper's House was included in the New York Public Library's 100 Best Children's Books of the Year, and Genie and the Witches' Spells was on the Child Study Association's book list. The Macmillan Book of Greek Gods and Heroes has received special notices, including The Washington Irving Children's Book Choice award, Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies, and a Parents' Choice Remarkable. Many of her books have also been book club selections. Four of her books are about witches including The Witch Who Was Afraid of Witches (1978), which was on The New York Times Children's Paperback Bestseller list last fall in a new paperback edition. When asked why so many witch books, she answers, "Probably because with witches anything can happen!"

In addition to writing books, Ms. Low has reviewed children's books for The New York Times, taught creative writing, and been the editor of Children's Choice book club. She is also the anthologist of four collections.

Jean Fritz of Dobbs Ferry is also the author of over two dozen books for young people and she is particularly known for her historical biographies, which the School Library Journal says have "blown like a fresh breeze across the children's book world...(she) has changed the face of the map." Titles like this immediately draw one in: Where Do you Think You're Going, Christopher Columbus?, Make Way for Sam Houston, Who's That Stepping on Plymouth Rock?, What's the Big Idea, Ben Franklin? and Shh! We're Writing the Constitution! Her subjects have ranged from George Washington, Paul Revere, Pocahontas, and Benedict Arnold to Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Teddy Roosevelt, and China's Long March. She has even written an autobiography, Homesick, about her childhood years in China, which was a 1983 John Newbery Medal Honor Book, and the recipient of an American Book Award and many other awards. Her most recent book - due out this fall - is the lushly illustrated Leonardo's Horse about the Leonardo da Vinci sculpture that was recently recreated in Beacon, NY and shipped to Milan, Italy.

Ms. Fritz says that her subjects "will suddenly step right out of the past and demand a book. Generally people don't bother to speak to me unless there's a good chance that I'll take them on." The result is usually a book that makes its way not only onto library bookshelves across the country but onto most "Best" lists.

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This series made possible in part by grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, Westchester Arts Council with funds from Westchester County Government, corporations and individuals and with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a State Agency. Additional funding has been provided by The Bydale Foundation.

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