Jeanne Willis was born in St Albans, Herts, in 1959. As a young girl she sought adventures though writing comic strips and books.

After completing a copywriting course at Watford Art College she went on to work in advertising. Today, Jeanne is an internationally renowned, full-time writer and has published over a hundred books ranging from picture books including The Bog Baby and Who's in the Loo?, to YA, poetry and fiction.

She has won several awards, including the Children's Book Award, the Silver Smarties Prize and has also been shortlisted for the Whitbread Award.

Jenni Desmond graduated from a Masters Degree in Children's Book Illustration at the Cambridge School of Art (UK) with distinction and her debut 'Red Cat Blue Cat' won the Cambridgeshire Read it Again! Award in 2012.

Her books have been translated into over a dozen languages since, and in 2015 Desmond was named Best Emerging Talent (Illustrator) at the Junior Design Awards (UK).

In 2016 she was made a Maurice Sendak Fellow and her book 'The Polar Bear' became a 'New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book' of the year.

Her work is admired for its narrative and visual depth, being at once complex and simple. When Jenni is not in her studio, you'll find her cooking, cycling and looking for adventure.