Tony Johnston grew up in San Marino California.In her ""spare time,"" Johnston has worked at a children's book store, taught a course on picture book writing at UCLA, and studied poetry writing for children with Myra Cohn Livingston. Although she has published nearly seventy-five books, Johnston never stops working. At this moment she is juggling about ten different story ideas. She is grateful for the many ideas that come to her, for the chance to work toward what has become her life goal-to be a good storyteller.