Tricia Gardella's books are mostly influenced by the ranch life she stepped into sixty years ago. She writes children's books about ranch animals, ranch routines and ranch relationships though occasionally getting side-tracked to explore the myriad other sides of life. She has tried it all, and almost mastered some: canning, cooking, knitting and other fiber arts, rug-making, gardening and various business ventures. But writing is her happiest of places and she is thrilled to be back after a twenty-year sabbatical. She has a BA in Ancient History and Classical Archaeology, three children, seven grandchildren and five great grandchildren, all givlng her much food for thought. She lives with two self-centered cats in Central California. Ginger Nielson lives at the top of a hill, near the edge of a forest in rural New England. There is a magic wand on her desk and a dragon in her basement.Everything else is nearly normal.She is the illustrator of over 80 children's picture books.
"""...the full-page colorful illustrations give welcome nuance to the various creatures, and the informative backmatter encourages curiosity and discovery"" --Kirkus"