Michael Morpurgo was 2003–2005 Children's Laureate, has written over 100 books and is the winner of many awards, including the Whitbread Children's Book Award, the Smarties Book Prize, the Blue Peter Award and the Red House Children's Book Award. His books are translated and read around the world and his hugely popular novel War Horse is now both a critically acclaimed stage play and a highly successful film. Michael and his wife, Clare, live in Devon. Visit Michael's website at www.michaelmorpurgo.com. Gary Blythe has illustrated many picture books for children, winning the Kate Greenaway Medal for The Whales' Song, his first book. He lives near Liverpool.