Michael Wagner is a children's author, speaker and storyteller. He writes for early childhood and for older children and his recent books include Why I Love Footy illustrated by Tom Jellett.

Prior to becoming a children's author, Michael played in a band that almost became famous, spent ten years working as a radio broadcaster with the ABC, wrote and produced award-winning animation for television, and wrote and performed comedy.

He is the author of the Maxx Rumble series, the Undys series and the Ted series. He also runs the publishing venture, Billy Goat Books.

Jess Racklyeft is a children's book illustrator based in Melbourne. She loves creating work with water colours and experimenting with new art techniques, and bringing it all together on the computer.

Her recent books include Merry Everything by Tania McCartney and If Baby Could Talk by Michael Wagner, as well as CBCA notable and SCBWI Crystal Kite winner Smile Cry by Tania McCartney.

With two book-loving little ones and lots of illustration jobs on the go, she's immersed in her dream world of children's books most of her days.