Michael Bond was born in Newbury, Berkshire on 13 January 1926 and educated at Presentation College, Reading.

He served in the Royal Air Force and the British Army before working as a cameraman for BBC TV for 19 years.

In 2015, Michael was awarded a CBE for his services to children's literature, to add to the OBE he received in 1997.

R. W. Alley is the illustrator of many books for children, including the Jigsaw Jones series.

He lives with his family in Rhode Island.