Julie Fortenberry is an abstract painter and a children's book illustrator. She has a Master's Degree in Fine Arts from Hunter College. Her illustrations have appeared in Sadie's Sukkah Breakfast (Kar-Ben) and Pippa at the Parade (Boyds Mills Press). She lives in Westchester County, New York.

"Danny and his mother read a picture book called Pirate Boy together and then, in a question-and-answer dialogue, create their own pirate adventure featuring Danny sailing away on a pirate ship with Mom close at hand, should he have second thoughts about the escapade. . . . Softly colored, uncluttered watercolor-style digital illustrations scored with thin, scratchy lines to suggest wind and motion perfectly match the nonthreatening tone of the text and feature just the right amount of accoutrement appropriate for a pirate story."--Booklist

"As he reads with his mom, little Danny wonders aloud what it would be like to be a pirate. From the comfort of his couch, his questions persist. 'What if I don't like it on the pirate ship? And I want to come back home?' With steadfast love, his mother answers every 'What if. . . ?' with confident answers that reassure the young boy. . . . A sweet Runaway Bunny book for the pirate set."--Kirkus Reviews