Jo van Dam is the author of four book. Her first, Doggy Ditties from A to Z'(Scholastic NZ, 2014), is a collection of canine rhymes, and was a finalist in the Children's Choice Book Awards in 2014. The Adventures of Kaia the Kororaa (commissioned by The Auckland War Memorial Museum, 2018) explores the waters of the Hauraki Gulf and beyond, with the help of a couple of little blue penguins. Her third book 'The Whale and theSnapper' (Scholastic NZ, 2017), was chosen by McDonalds to reprint in mini form as a gift in their 'Happy Meals', and was also reprinted for inclusion in the government funded education packs, sent into homes during the first Covid-19 lockdown. Jo is a primary school librarian for two Auckland schools, which she says is the most rewarding job in the world. She emigrated from England when she was ten years old, is married with two grown-up children and loves family, friends, cooking and dancing.