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.

Sebastien Braun was born in Strasbourg. He loved drawing as a child, but as there were no art lessons at his secondary school, so he opted to study history at university. Fortunately, his course was in the same building as the art department, he swapped and studied that instead. After teaching applied art to sixth formers for a few years, he became a freelance illustrator. Since moving to London, he has became a very successful illustrator of children's books, including Santa's Noisy House and Busy Holiday. He lives in the Cotswolds with his wife and two boys.