Barbara Taylor studied Environmental Sciences at Southampton University before becoming a science editor and writer at London's Natural History Museum. She has worked as an editor for a number of London publishers and is an award-winning author of more than 120 children's information books and encyclopaedias on natural history, science and geography. Titles include: Animal Homes and The Really Deadly and Dangerous Dinosaurs (Dorling Kindersley Inside Guides); Crocodiles, Turtles & Tortoises, Snakes (Lorenz); Cobras (Belitha) and Frogs, Snakes and their relatives (OUP). Barbara has won The American Association of Physics Science Writing Award; The Geographical Association Gold Award; The English Association's 4-11 award in the Key Stage 2 Non-Fiction category; The Wow! Award from the National Literacy Association. Mark Ruffle was born near Bristol in 1973. He graduated from the University of the West of England with a degree in Graphic Design in 1995. After leaving college Mark worked as a visualiser, then in 1997 started working for Oxford University Press as an Art Buyer. Mark has been freelancing since 2000 and has enjoyed working for a wide variety of clients including Aardman, producing illustrations for Flash. He has designed and illustrated web content for the BBC to accompany television programmes such as Hustle, Holby City and Bleak House. Mark works in Adobe Illustrator and is equally happy drawing illustrations for books, packaging, advertising or animation.