Julia Donaldson is a top selling author of children’s books with over 65 million books sold worldwide. Among her greatest successes are Room on the Broom, The Gruffalo and Stick Man (all illustrated by Axel Scheffler), What the Ladybird Heard (illustrated by Lydia Monks) and The Giant Jumperee (illustrated by Helen Oxenbury). Julia’s books have been translated into over 72 languages.

Julia lives in the UK with her husband Malcolm and divides her time between Sussex in the South and Edinburgh in Scotland. From 2011 to 2013, she was the UK Children’s Laureate. Julia writes fiction, poems, plays and songs, as well as picture books. The TV films of The Gruffalo and Room on the Broom have both been nominated for Oscars.

Catherine Rayner is an author and illustrator of children's picture books. She studied Illustration at Edinburgh College of Art where, for her final degree show, she created what would go on to be her debut picture book.

She is winner of the Kate Greenaway Medal and Booktrust's Best New Illustrator Award, and, in 2010, was the inaugural illustrator in residence at the Edinburgh International Book Festival.

As well as producing award-winning picture books, Catherine also exhibits her artwork in galleries all over the world and illustrates her own range of greeting cards.