Sam Taplin grew up in a beautiful valley in Yorkshire, where he dreamed of being a writer, and after three years reading other people's books at university he started writing his own for Usborne.

He's been doing it ever since. When he's not writing about lonely rabbits or inquisitive bears, he likes doing card tricks, writing songs and playing long games of chess by the fire.

Andy Elkerton is a highly talented illustrator who has now turned his hand at writing.

He has illustrated many fabulous readers on the Franklin Watts list.

One of his recent titles, I Love this Tree, was shortlisted at the SLA awards. He lives on the west coast of Scotland with his family.