Peter Sís is an internationally acclaimed author, artist, and filmmaker. He was born in Brno, Czechoslovakia, and graduated from the Academy of Applied Arts in Prague. He also studied at the Royal College of Art in London. His picture books for children include
Play, Mozart, Play!
; the Caldecott Honor Books
Tibet: Through the Red Box
and
Starry Messenger: Galileo Galilei
; the
New York Times
Best Illustrated Book
Tree of Life: Charles Darwin
; and several popular books inspired by his own children, such as
Madlenka
Fire Truck
. He has also illustrated bestselling books written by Jack Prelutsky, among them
Scranimals
The Dragons are Singing Tonight
.