The Authors

Christina McKay-DiChristina is the debut co-author of The Barely There Bear. Besides writing books and songs, McKay-DiChristina works as a full-time Early Childhood Educator and Administrator, sharing her love of literature, children, family, and music. Her own love of learning blossomed during her time at Northwestern University, earning an undergraduate and master's degree in Music Education, with an emphasis on Vocal Performance and Music Therapy for Children with Autism. She also sings in a band and rocks out at home with her children, stepchildren, and their little white dog, Bella. Together they summer in the Adirondack Mountains where they enjoy campfires, family hikes, lazy afternoons at the lake, and an occasional bear sighting!

Susan J. DiChristina is the debut co-author of The Barely There Bear. She co-wrote the book with her cousin Christina while vacationing in the mountains. DiChristina’s love of nature began as a Girl Scout in the woods and on the water. She studied Literature as a student, ultimately earning a master’s degree from Case Western Reserve University. DiChristina loved reading children’s books to her kids when they were young and dreamed of authoring her own someday. When DiChristina is not making s’mores, she manages a legal software company. She also sings in the car and rocks out at home with her children and their little brown dog, Scout. Together they summer in the Adirondack Mountains where they enjoy campfires, family hikes, lazy afternoons at the lake, and an occasional bear sighting!

Blair Gianatti is a professionally trained pastry chef and the author of the yummy recipes for kids in The Barely There Bear. She first fell in love with baking at the knee of her grandma Nancy when young Blair was barely a toddler. Growing up, she and Grandma Nancy loved to bake all sorts of sweet treats together in the kitchen. She took her love of baking passed down from Grandma Nancy to Johnson & Wales University where she earned a degree in Baking & Pastry Arts and Food Service Management. She married her high school sweetheart, Joseph, and she’s been baking her way to his heart ever since. With enormous support from her husband (and favorite dishwasher!), Chef Blair owns her own business baking for special occasions and runs her own baking blog. She hopes her recipes designed to be baked together by kids and their loved ones inspire children to learn and experiment in the kitchen as she once did.