Illustrations © 2024 by Brian Cronin/Rocky Pond Books hide caption Doreen and Brian Cronin aren't related — as far as they know. They first stumbled across each other on Facebook: two Cronins, both working in the world of children's books — Doreen as an author and Brian as an illustrator — and living in the same city? They should probably get a cup of coffee! "We decided to meet up. We both live in Brooklyn and we met on a bench in Prospect Park just to chat," explains Doreen Cronin, "and that was three years ago.

" They didn't let the perfect meet-cute go to waste — they hit it off, both personally and professionally. Soon, they were dating and working together. "We're in it now!" Doreen laughs.

The Cronins admit they were at first a touch apprehensive about working together as a new couple. Brian had never collaborated with an author before. But they couldn't really help it, says Doreen.

"It's what we were both doing all day long," she explains. "We're always talking about books. We're always talking about ideas.

" Luckily, it's worked out. "I really love it," says Brian. "I think it's made us stronger.

" Their first picture book together was last year's Lawrence and Sophia . They quickly followed up with Mama in the Moon , about a baby sloth who falls out of a tree at night and has to wait for his mom to s l o w l y come get him. Illustrations © 2024 by Brian Cronin/Rocky Pond Books hide caption They got the idea for Mama in the Moon over breakfast — Doreen says t.