You know the stories, you love the characters, but do you know the story behind the writer? Barbara Park is the author who has created one of the most popular and beloved characters in contemporary children’s books—Junie B. Jones. Along with Junie, Park has created an array of other equally compelling characters in books that discuss topics such as being the new kid in school, divorce, the death of a sibling, and Alzheimer’s disease. In a one-volume reference, Barbara Park details the life and real-life influences of this famous author, revealing the person behind the words, and the author behind the literature we love.