Jane Breskin Zalben, who celebrates her birthday on May 21st, prefers to be involved in every stage of a book's production, an interest that serves her well in her role as both author and illustrator. Much of this interest remains from her tenure as art director in Scribner's children's book department. "It is my job to bring words to life and to add another dimension to them" she says. Her artistic eye began capturing images at five years old, and her father referred to her early work as "love pictures." Her work marks important milestones in her own life, and her 25 plus books have become a chronology of her own story. Her work includes books as diverse as Pearl's Passover: A Family Celebration Through Stories, Recipes, Craft and Songs (2002) and Maybe It Will Rain Tomorrow (1982).