LAUREN THOMPSON adored ballet class as a child, but she never had the opportunity to perform in a ballet recital. She drew inspiration for BALLERINA DREAMS from her own recollections as well as interactions with the girls, their parents, and Joann Ferrara, their teacher. Thompson spent eighteen years as a children's book editor before deciding to pursue writing full-time. POLAR BEAR NIGHT, a New York Times bestseller, as well as the MOUSE'S FIRST and LITTLE QUACK series, and, most recently, THE APPLE PIE THAT PAPA BAKED, are among her numerous picture books. Her spouse and son reside with her in Brooklyn, New York.