Anne Fine was the second Children's Laureate in Britain between 2001 and 2003. She is a two time winner of the Carnegie Medal, Britain's most coveted children's literature award, and has also won the Guardian Children's Literature Award, the Whitbread Children's Novel Award twice, and a Smarties Prize. She also won the Publishing News Children's Author of the Year Award in 1990 and again in 1993. In 2010 she won the inaugural Good Writing Award. Her books for older children include the award winning The Tulip Touch, Goggle-Eyes, which was adapted for television by the BBC and The Devil Walks. Twentieth Century Fox filmed her novel Madame Doubtfire as Mrs Doubtfire, starring Robin Williams. She also writes critically acclaimed adult novels as well. Her work has been translated into twenty-five languages, and has over forty books to her credit.
Emma Chichester Clark was born in London, England, but grew up in Ireland. In 1975 she went back to England to attend the Chelsea School of Art in London. After completing her undergraduate degree, she enrolled at the Royal College of Art for her master's degree. She was approached by an editor at London publisher Bodley Head to illustrate for her first children's book entitled, Listen to This. Clark is considered one of England's most distinguished picture book creators. She has written and illustrated many of her own picture books while also creating accompanying artwork for numerous stories, picture books, anthologies, and retellings by other writers, including Roald Dahl. In her own books, which include Up in Heaven, The Story of Horrible Hilda and Henry, and the award-winning I Love You, Blue Kangaroo!, she features child, adult, and animal characters in humorous situations that provide realistic portrayals of human feelings and failings. Clark was also a visiting lecturer at Middlesex Polytechnic and City and Guilds School of Art, 1984-86. She had an exhibition of her illustrations at the Thumb Gallery, England, 1984 and 1987.
