Like dePaola, Ada remembers her surroundings in detail and shares stories about her extended family. Readers see how her illustrated books and novels are grounded in her experiences. Short autobiographies for younger children in the Meet the Author series from publisher Richard C. Owen integrate the authors' words with childhood and current photos, and illustrations from their books. The series gives basic introductions to such fine writers as Frank Asch, Lois Ehlert, Paul Goble, Margaret Mahy, Patricia McKissack, Patricia Polacco, Jane Yolen and others. Children more interested in art can turn to Pat Cummings' excellent three-volume Talking with Artists series, which has interviews with distinguished children's book illustrators in a format that inspired the Marcus book.
Children can also look for Web sites about authors and illustrators.