KATE McCORMICK lives in Houston, less than a block from where Happy became an unlikely hero in 1931. She learned about Happy while researching her first book, Images of America: Southside Place. Beginning with an undated newspaper article, Kate tracked down the descendants of Happy's owners who shared family photos and memories to help bring Happy's story to life. The prepublished manuscript of Happy was named a finalist for the 2019 Joan Lowery Nixon Memorial Award. TINA OCHENANTE (formerly Tina Armenante) is a children's book illustrator who studied at the Cambridge School of Art in the United Kingdom. She currently lives in San Francisco with her husband, son, and dog named Alfonso.