Born and bred in New Zealand, Maura Finn now lives in Thornbury, Melbourne with her husband and two young daughters. In her early writing days, she ran a rather lucrative playground business, swapping tailor-made poems for lunchbox leftovers.

Now, many years later, she has rediscovered the joy and value of picture books through sharing them with her own children, and is delighted to think that her stories may contribute to other children’s love of reading.

Aura Parker is an illustrator, writer and designer who creates delightful picture books, prints and textiles. Her work is joyful, imaginative, and brimming with details to explore.

Aura Parker's storytelling though words and pictures inspires imagination, courage and confidence in young readers. Aura works with watercolour, gouache, pen and coloured pencil with digital composition. She works from a studio in Sydney and Meerkat Splash is her first picture book with Penguin Random House.