Before becoming a children's author, Laura Murray was an elementary teacher, specializing in Early Childhood. At the beginning of each school year, a freshly baked gingerbread man managed to escape from her class. She says, "We hung missing posters and searched the halls, discovering crumbs and dropped candies, as we asked school staff members where he might be. But somehow, he always found his way back to our classroom on his own — one smart cookie! Still I couldn't help but wonder what adventures he'd had while he was out and about."

Visit www.lauramurraybooks.com for a curriculum-linked teacher's guide, fun printables, and extension activities.

Laura is a member of SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators) and NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children.) She is a two- time award winner of the Florida Freelance Writers Association Children's Writing Competition and co-founder of an online forum for mother-writers.

When Laura's not writing, she loves to return to the classroom with fun, interactive, and informational school presentations.