Margaret Wild was born in South Africa and came to Australia in 1972. She has been a journalist on newspapers and magazines, and she worked as a book editor in children's publishing for sixteen years, responsible for managing and commissioning a large range of titles. She lives in Sydney and now writes full-time. Margaret has written more than 40 books for children. Her books are published around the world and have won numerous awards. Over 35 years, Ann James has collaborated with many authors, illustrating picture books that almost always feature animals! In fact, her own pets are characters in The Midnight Gang; Dog In, Cat Out; The Way I Love You and Chester and Gil. Ann's playful approach to illustrating is evident in her choice of media and techniques. Some of her memorable picture-book characters are in Lucy Goosey; I'm a Dirty Dinosaur; I'm a Hungry Dinosaur; Bird and Bear and Bird and Bear and the Special Day. She looks forward to readers getting to know Samantha and Sebastian in A Very Quacky Christmas! Ann lives in Melbourne, where she and her partner run Books Illustrated, a gallery specialising in promoting picture books and their creators.