THOMAS KING has written several highly acclaimed children's books. A Coyote Solstice Tale, illustrated by Gary Clement, won the American Indian Library Association Youth Literature Award for Best Picture Book and A Coyote Columbus Story, illustrated by William Kent Monkman, was a Governor General's Award finalist. He was a Professor of English at the University of Guelph for many years, where he taught Native Literature and Creative Writing. He won the Governor General's Award for his adult novel, The Back of the Turtle, and he has been nominated for the Commonwealth Writers Prize.