Petra Mathers (1945β2024) was the author and illustrator of many picture books, including her beloved Lottie series. Lottieβs New Beach Towel was Book of the Year for Parenting Magazine, and Lottieβs New Friend was named a New York Times Best Illustrated Book and won the Silver Medal from the New York Society of Illustrators. Petra and her husband, author and photographer Michael Mathers, lived in Astoria, Oregon.