Anita Crawford Clark is a writer and illustrator of fiction and nonfiction books for children, and a 2022 recipient of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators' Out from the Margins Award (OMA). She grew up chasing butterflies and fishing crawdads from a nearby creek during scorching Sacramento summers. Her stories and illustrations often reflect those memorable childhood years. Anita began formal art training at Parsons School of Design before transferring to The University of California - Davis where she earned her undergraduate degree in Sociology. She went on to earn graduate degrees in Creative Writing and Psychology. A veteran teacher, Anita has taught nearly every grade and especially takes pleasure in directing musical theatre productions for her students. Anita lives in Rancho Cordova, California. Connect with Anita at https: //www.acrawfordclark.com.