Clyde Robert Bulla (born January 9, 1914, near King City, Missouri, United States, d. May 23, 2007, Warrensburg, Missouri) was the author of over fifty books for children. His first book, The Donkey Cart, was published in 1946.  He captivated readers for over six decades with his stories of historical figures and contemporary tales for children and young adults. His first tale, “The Donkey Cart,” appeared in 1946,  and he went on to have more than 80 books published. Among his best sellers are “Squanto, Friend of the Pilgrims,” “Pocahontas and the Strangers,” “A Lion to Guard Us” and “Charlie’s House”. He also wrote about the challenges facing modern youths, most notably in “Shoeshine Girl,” “The Chalk Box Kid” and “The Paint Brush Kid”. His autobiography, “A Grain of Wheat: A Writer Begins,” was published in 1985 and he was the first recipient of the California Council on Children’s Literature award in 1962. (bio by: John “J-Cat” Griffith)