Philip Pullman is one of the most highly respected children's authors writing today. Winner of many prestigious awards, including the Carnegie of Carnegies and the Whitbread Award, Pullman's epic fantasy trilogy His Dark Materials has been acclaimed as a modern classic. It has sold 17.5 million copies worldwide and been translated into 40 languages. In 2005 he was awarded the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award. He lives in Oxford. John Lawrence (Illustrator) Tony Mitton is an award-winning poet, whose gently mesmerising, often humorous poetry is irresistible to children and adults alike. He is an extremely versatile author, writing story poems and shorter verse with skill and wit. Tony does many author events, school visits and poetry readings and always leaves his audience entranced. He lives in Cambridge with his wife and two children. John Lawrence was born in Hastings, studied at Hastings School of Art, followed by military service in West Africa, and more study at the Central School of Arts and Crafts (now Central St. Martin's). Since then he has worked as an illustrator and a lecturer at Brighton School of Art, Camberwell School of Art and Cambridge School of Art. John has illustrated over 150 books and is one of the leading wood-block engraving illustrators in the world.