Eileen L. Ziesler (author)
worked toward her master's degree in special
education between 1973 and 1977 while becoming a
mother to three children. In 1978, Janelle Thompson
(illustrator) was also a young mother with two
little girls. When her oldest child, Jenny, did
not follow the expected developmental trajectory,
Janelle asked the school district to provide an
early childhood program. Eileen became the program's
first teacher and Jenny became her first student.
As part of the early childhood program, Eileen made
visits to Jenny's home where she and Jenny's
mother became good friends.
Twenty-four years passed and Eileen
retired from the early childhood program to other
dreams of writing and community involvement. In
those same years Janelle developed her talent for
creating wildlife watercolors. Jenny grew up and
gained employment in the community. Through a mentoring
program in 2004, Jenny and Eileen found each other
again and became friends. Because of Jenny, Eileen
and Janelle renewed their friendship and collaborated
on their first picture book, TOADS. Other picture
books celebrating the wonder in childhood through
the beauty of Janelle's artwork are in progress.
Peter Olson (photographer)
enjoys outdoor sports and photography in nature.
He formerly did black and white darkroom printing
along with color photography. The digital boom revived
his interest in making prints, and he now uses the
computer and a photo printer instead of a chemical
darkroom. Peter enjoys photographing landscapes,
buildings, and portraits in northern Wisconsin.
