JANIE BYNUM is the author-illustrator of several books for children, including ALTOONA BABOONA. She says, "When I sat down to write Nutmeg and Barley, I was thinking about how opposites tend to attract. I also wanted to explore the consequences of miscommunication—so common in all types of relationships. Finally, and probably most important, Nutmeg and Barley is about how friends nurture each other—in spite of little tiffs or differences." from Candlewick's website http://www.candlewick.com