Julia Donaldson is the author of some of the world's best-loved children's books, including the modern classic The Gruffalo, which has sold over 17 million copies worldwide, and the hugely successful What the Ladybird Heard adventures. Julia also writes fiction, including the Princess Mirror-Belle books illustrated by Lydia Monks, as well as poems, plays and songs ¿ and her brilliant live shows are always in demand. She was Children¿s Laureate 2011-13, is a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, and has been honoured with a CBE for services to Literature. Julia and her husband Malcolm divide their time between West Sussex and Edinburgh.
Catherine Rayner studied illustration at Edinburgh College of Art. She fell in love with the city and still lives there with her young family and a small menagerie of creatures including Shannon the horse, Ena the cat and a goldfish called Richard, all of whom inspire her work. Catherine won the Best New Illustrator Award at the Booktrust Early Years Awards for Augustus and His Smile and has been awarded the prestigious CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal. Catherine's other titles for Macmillan include the critically acclaimed Solomon Crocodile and the award-winning Smelly Louie.