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.

Jillian Powell has an MA in English from Cambridge University and an M.Phil in Art History from the Courtauld Institute, London.

She is an experienced writer of children's fiction and non-fiction, and has written on many social issues.

Shoo Rayner began his career as an illustrator in a garden shed near Machynlleth. He drew for Michael Morpurgo and Rose Impey, but editors kept encouraging him to write.

Many years, and over 200 books later, Shoo, well known for his many fast-paced series for newly confident readers, has been building a worldwide following for his award winning how-to-draw videos on YouTube.