About the Author

Lisa Shanahan is an award-winning writer of picture books and fiction for young people. Her first novel for teenagers, My Big Birkett, was published to critical acclaim both in Australia, where it was shortlisted for the CBCA Book of the Year for Older Readers, and in the United States. Her picture book Bear and Chook by the Sea, illustrated by Emma Quay, was the CBCA Book of the Year for Early Childhood in 2010. Big Pet Day, illustrated by Gus Gordon, was the Speech Pathology Book of the Year for Ages 5-8 in 2015 and Hark, It's Me, Ruby Lee! was shortlisted for the Prime Minister's Literary Awards in 2018. She lives in Sydney. Leila Rudge grew up in England and spent her first few years making mud pies with five siblings. Not long after completing an Illustration Degree at Bath Spa University, she hopped on a plane to Australia with her portfolio.

Leila has now illustrated over ten picture books. Her illustrations are a mixture of pencil, paint, paper and any other bits and bobs found in her studio at home. She loves adding collage to her drawings and often spends a bit too long flipping through magazines to find the perfect pattern. Her writing usually always begins with a sketchbook scribble and she enjoys developing story ideas from her illustrations.

Leila currently lives and works in Newcastle, Australia.