Jo Harper

Jo Harper's Texan roots account for the style of her works, which are themselves deeply rooted in Texan and Mexican history. She was born in 1932, and grew up with a penchant for reading and the outdoors. Harper's education is both lifelong and wide-ranging; she has both a bachelor's and master's degree from Texas Tech University, continued her studies at Pennsylvania State and Columbia University, and even attended a variety of schools in Mexico and Spain. As a teacher Harper taught at the elementary, community college, and university levels. A lover of storytelling, she first made her appearance in print with Jalapeno Hal, and since then has delighted audiences with adventures, tall tales, and stories based off of folklore. Harper thoroughly enjoys writing for children, which is evident in such works as Legend of Mexicatl, Prairie Dog Pioneers, and Wilma Rudolph: Olympic Runner. Harper continues her illustrious career in storytelling, both in print and in person, spreading her interests among readers of all ages.