Peter Sís celebrates his birthday on May 11th. Born in Brno, Czechoslovakia, he attended the Academy of Applied Arts in Prague and the Royal College of Art in London. First a filmmaker, he won several awards for his work. His films are in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art. Sent to the USA in 1982 to film the 1984 Winter Olympics, Sís sought asylum when the Russian federation boycotted the Olympics and he was ordered to return home. He wrote to Maurice Sendak, who introduced Sís to children's book editors in New York City. That was the start of a new career for the then 35-year-old. Today he lives in New York City with his wife, Ten-y Lajtha, a documentary film editor, and their two children. In 1986, he won a Newbery Medal for The Whipping Boy by Sid Fleischman.

In 1997, Sís received a Caldecott Honor for Galileo Galilei. He has won the New York Times Best Illustrated Book award five times, the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award Honor two times, and the Society of Illustrators gold and silver medals. A prolific illustrator, his work can be found in editorial illustrations, book jackets, posters, murals, and stage settings. His newest book, Play, Mozart, Play!, has been well-received for its beautiful illustrations but even more so for its approachable introduction to classical music.