Stephen Aitken is a biologist, author and artist of over 30 books, both fiction and non-fiction, for young readers. He is passionate about the conservation of all life on Earth, the wonders of the plant and animal kingdoms and fostering respect for the natural world in young readers. Stephen is the co-founder and Executive Secretary of Biodiversity Conservancy International, a Canadian charity based in Ottawa that restores degraded habitats, develops and conducts education programs and supports biodiversity research. He is the Editorial Director of Biodiversity, a peer-reviewed science journal. He lives in Ottawa.