Jan Brett was born in Hingham, Massachusetts and celebrates her birthday on December 1st. Brett knew she wanted to be a children's book illustrator by the time she was six years old. She studied at Colby Junior College and the Boston Museum School before her first book, Fritz and the Beautiful Horses, was published in 1981. Known for her exquisitely detailed art, her trademark is using beautiful detailed borders and side panels in her pictures to add to her story line. Brett refers to them as her "overflow of thoughts." Her husband is a member of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and travel with him is a constant inspiration. Jan visits many different countries where she researches the architecture and costumes that appear in her work. She writes her own books and adapts and illustrates folktales, working for about a year on each one. Many teachers and fans have discovered and subscribe to www.janbrett.com, a place to meet some of her charming characters and enjoy all of her wonderful online activities and contests. Some of her latest titles are On Noah's Ark, Daisy Come Home, Who is Knocking on Christmas Eve?, based on an old Norwegian folktale, and Christmas Treasury, which combines seven of her most famous and best-selling titles and includes a lavish edition of the classic "Night Before Christmas."