Barbara Park (Author), Denise Brunkus (Illustrator)

Barbara Lynne Park (née Tidswell) was an American author of children's books, best known for the Junie B. Jones series, which she created and illustrated with Denise Brunkus. Born in Mount Holly, New Jersey, she earned a degree in secondary education from the University of Alabama but pursued writing instead, producing over 40 books including Skinnybones and Mick Harte Was Here. She passed away in 2013 after battling ovarian cancer, leaving a legacy of humor and relatability in children's literature.