Patti Pavolko grew up in a small town, McKean, near Erie Pennsylvania. She loved living in the country where she picked blackberries and caught tadpoles and fireflies; just like the children in her first book did. She knew she wanted to be a teacher since she was in elementary school.

She attended Edinboro State College, (now Penn West University) where she pursued a dual major; Elementary Education/Special Education. She graduated in 1982 and her first teaching job was at Conneaut High School teaching 7th, 8th, and 9th grade Learning Support. The next year she went to Springfield Elementary where she taught 3rd-5th grade Learning Support. She taught there for 32 years. She married her husband, Dennis in October of 1983. He is her best friend who has been with her through the good and the bad. He has supported her every endeavor.

Patti has two children Leslie Pavolko Lackey and Paul Pavolko. Paul’s wife, Abby does all the illustrations for her books. She has three grandchildren: Wesson, Haylen, and Kinley. They have been the inspiration for her books and are the characters in each book. She retired in June of 2015. In July, her first granddaughter, Kinley was born.

Patti has written two more books: While Ther Parents Were Sleeping, The Adventures Continue and Haylen’s Dinosaur Adventures. She is currently working on her fourth book.