June 11 was the birthday of Betty Jean Lifton, author of Taka-chan and I: A Dog’s Journey to Japan by Runcible. This remarkable book, with photographs by the great japanese photographer Eikoh Hosoe, tells the story of Runcible the Weimaraner, who digs a tunnel from Cape Cod to Japan, where the mets a young girl and helps her defeat a dragon. In addition to writing for children, Lifton was a dedicated advocate for adoption reform.
On June 14 we celebrate the birthday of Penelope Farmer, the author of Charlotte Sometimes. The book—a striking tale of time travel and coming of age—is vivid and alluring, mixing a fantastical premise with attention to authentic emotions. Farmer, an author of books for adults and children, is a recipient of a Carnegie Medal commendation.