Dick King-Smith (1922–2011) is one of the world's favourite children's book authors. He won the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize for The Sheep-Pig (later filmed as Babe), he was named Children's Book Author of the Year in 1991 and won the 1995 Children's Book Award for Harriet's Hare.

In addition to the Sophie series, his titles for Walker include The Finger-Eater, Aristotle, The Twin Giants and two books about a very special pig: Lady Lollipop and Clever Lollipop.

Jill Barton studied for a degree in Illustration at Manchester Polytechnic as a mature student and has now illustrated many children's books, including The Rattletrap Car by Phyllis Root and the popular Baby Duck stories by Amy Hest.

Jill lives in Devon and has three children.