Marion was born in a small northern-Illinois town called Oglesbury. She briefly taught English and looked after foster children along with her own children. Marion now teaches part time in a Master of Fine Arts programme in Writing for Children and Young Adults whilst writing picture books and contemporary novels for young people.

• Marion loves cats and dogs and being outdoors
• The first poem that Marion remembers writing was a poem in honour of her teddy bear!
• Marion has won lots of awards for her books including a Newbery Honor for On My Honor

John lives in Kent and is both an author and illustrator of children's books. The first work that he produced as a freelance illustrator was the cover of a selection of short stories by Dylan Thomas for Penguin Books nearly thirty years ago. Since then John has worked for a variety of people including Time Magazine and advertising agencies all over the world.

• John has worked for the Sesame Street workshop in New York!
• When Kuwait was invaded, John was illustrating wildlife sculptures in Oman
• John is a part-time lecturer in graphic design and illustration