Burt's an orphan, but no regular orphan; he's an orphan of time and space after a cosmic accident left him stranded on earth, or so he says. Lydia is an older woman who has adopted Burt. Together they tell a tale of home and belonging from two different perspectives. John Martz is a cartoonist and illustrator in Toronto, Ontario. His most recent book, A Cat Named Tim and Other Stories , was shortlisted for The Governor General's Literary Awards and was nominated for the Eisner Award for Best Publication for Early Readers (up to age seven).