Betty MacDonald (1907-1958) was born in Boulder, Colorado, and her family moved frequently before settling in Seattle. At 18, she married Robert E. Heskett and moved with him to a farm near Port Townsend that lacked both plumbing and electricity, where they raised chickens. She and Hesket separated and, in 1942, Betty married Donald MacDonald and moved to Vashon Island where they went into the chicken business. Their exploits were the inspiration for her first novel, "The Egg and I" published in 1945. The children in her neighborhood inspired her ever-popular "Mrs. Piggle- Wiggle" children's books. Richard Bennett (1899-1971), who grew up in Seattle, was a leading children's book author and illustrator, and he was selected to illustrate Betty MacDonald's book.