Gilbert Ford holds a BFA from Pratt Institute and an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from VCFA. He is the author and illustrator of picture books Flying Lessons, The Marvelous Thing that Came from a Spring, and How the Cookie Crumbled. He is also the author and illustrator of his middle grade novel The Mysterious Messenger. He has illustrated many New York Times Best Selling middle grade novels and award winning picture books.