About the author Joan Grant was born in New York and has worked as a teacher, writer and historian in Asia, Europe and Australia. She has taught 'Contemporary Asia' as a senior lecturer at Monash University and has served on the boards of Sisters Publishing, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, the Australia China Council, the Asian Studies Association of Australia and Asialink. Joan has had two books published as well as a number of articles, book reviews and poetry. She speaks French and a little Chinese (Mandarin), has five grown children and lives in inner city Melbourne. About the illustrator Neil Curtis is an acclaimed artist who has exhibited both nationally and internationally. He was the recipient of the Silver Award for Illustration by the Australian Writers and Art Directors and has published a number of children's books, including The Roo Book and Bear Dinkum. Neil currently works as a freelance illustrator and artist and lives in Elwood, Victoria.