Born in Taipei in 1932, Cheng Ming-Chin graduated from the art department of National Taipei University of Education and is an illustrator and picture book collector. He was an art teacher at a primary school for twenty-five years and an editorial consultant for several publishing houses. He also played a pioneering role in developing art education for children in Taiwan, and he has published several books on the subject, as well as titles about picture books from around the world. His best-known works as an illustrator include The Little Paper Boats That Went to See the Sea and A Collection of Small Animal Nursery Rhymes.