Barbara Mitchelhill trained as a teacher. While she was teaching, she began writing for BBC children's TV and went on to write for educational publishers, before writing novels for children. She makes school visits all over the country, and enjoys appearing at literary festivals and talking to teachers and librarians, some as far away as the Caribbean. Tony Ross has illustrated more than 800 books, which are published all over the world. Dr Xargle's Book of Earth Tiggerswas shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway Medal and Tadpole's Promisewon the Silver Medal in the Smarties Prize 2003. He was the British choice for the Andersen Medal 2004. The Nanny Goat's Kid was shortlisted for the Roald Dahl Funny Prize 2010.