Julia Donaldson has written some of the world's best-loved children's books, including modern classics The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo's Child, which together have sold over 25 million copies worldwide and have been translated into over one hundred languages. Her other books include Room on the Broom, Stick Man and Zog, illustrated by Axel Scheffler, The Hospital Dog, illustrated by Sara Ogilvie and the hugely successful What the Ladybird Heard adventures, illustrated by Lydia Monks. Julia also writes fiction, including the Princess Mirror-Belle series, illustrated by Lydia Monks, as well as poems, plays and songs - and her brilliant live shows are always in demand. She was the UK Children's Laureate 2011-13 and has been honoured with a CBE for Services to Literature. Julia and her husband Malcolm divide their time between West Sussex and Edinburgh.


Becky Thorns graduated with a Fine Arts degree from Falmouth University. A longing to apply her work led to a move into illustration and graphic design. Becky loves to take inspiration from nature and her travels. Along with illustrating Julia Donaldson's Pick and Mix Poetry, she is the illustrator of Tales of the Prehistoric World written by Kallie Moore and The World of Whales, written by Darcy Dobell and shortlisted for the 2020 World Illustration Awards. Becky lives in Cornwall, where you may find her exploring the great outdoors or curling up with a nature or true crime documentary.