Robert Munsch is the author of more than 25 books for children including "The Paper Bag Princes" and "Stephanie's Ponytail." He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and studied to be a Jesuit priest before deciding to work with children instead. He taught in a variety of nursery schools and daycare centers while he earned an MA in Early Childhood Education. In 1975, Munsch and his wife, Ann, moved to Guelph, Ontario. The Munschs have three children: Julie, Andrew, and Tyya (see them all in "Something Good!").

Michael Martchenko has illustrated over 30 books for children and has exhibited his work throughout North America. He has won numerous awards for design and illustration. He lives with his wife, Patricia, in Toronto.

While it is most unusual for fiction to have revised editions, Munsch's texts are but the static form of an ever changing dynamic, his storytelling. Consequently, over time, the printed version can depart from what children are hearing when Munsch tells the story to a live audience. Dwindling stock and the need for reprinting provide publisher and author with an occasion to make modifications, and, in the case of The Dark, the opportunity to change illustrators.... [This] 1997 version seems to be faster, brighter and more lively while offering much more for the eye. School and public libraries will want to add the new version of The Dark to their collections, but they should not discard the original Suomalainen-illustrated rendition for language arts and art classes could be enlivened through a comparison of the two editions. Highly recommended.--Dave Jenkinson"Canadian Materials" (10/31/1997)