Ms. Phyllis Banks, an author, educator, and volunteer, has worked at Hampton University’s Harvey Library for the past eighteen years, occupying a myriad of multi-layered positions. Her background in library work provided a landscape to set her imagination of bringing characters, stories, and books to life, with the publication of her first book, The Runaway Books. She studied Early Childhood Development at Virginia Peninsula Community College, formerly known as Thomas Nelson Community College. She volunteers at Hampton University’s Child Development Center, where she encouragingly reads to the children, showing them that reading can be educational and fun! She also volunteers as part of the Mayor’s Book Club of Hampton, reading to students from Pre-K to Second grade, at the various elementary schools throughout Hampton, spanning four years and counting. Ms. Banks lives in Hampton, Virginia. She has three grandsons and three great-grandchildren.