María José Fitzgerald is a teacher and children's author. Her favorite stories usually include animals, friendship, family, and magic. She grew up snorkeling and hiking in her homeland of Honduras, where nature and culture nourished her soul. Her debut novel, Turtles of the Midnight Moon won the Green Earth Book Award and was named a Bank Street Best Book of the Year, among other honors. When she's not writing, you can find her reading, walking her dogs, or maybe out on a family mountain-bike ride.