Ben M. Baglio was born in New York in 1960, and grew up in a small town in New Jersey. Baglio studied English Literature at the University of Pennsylvania. After graduation, he worked as a children's book editor in New York City. Five years later, a job at publishing house in England became available and he moved there to accept the position. Some time after that, Baglio decided to try his own hand at writing and created the characters of Mandy Hope and James Hunter. Their adventures became known as the Animal Ark series. The books originally were published in England, under the pseudonym Lucy Daniels, and have since gone on to be published in the USA and translated into 15 languages. There… is also a live-action television series based on the books in England. Some of Ben Baglio's titles are The Brave Bunny, Sheepdog In The Snow, and Spaniel in a Stocking. Baglio has also contributed one title, The First Olympics, to the Choose Your Own Adventure gamebook series. Baglio also wrote the Horseshoe Trilogies.
Shelagh McNicholas was born and grew up in Liverpool. She went on to study at Kingston University where she graduated with a BA (Hons) in Graphic Design & Illustration. Apart from a short time spent teaching life drawing, Shelagh has always worked as an illustrator as well as being a full time mum to her daughter, Molly. 'The Ballet Class' written by Adele Geras, was Shelagh's first picture book for Orchard Books. Her realistic and endearing illustrations perfectly complement the story of Tilly and her ambitions to become a top ballerina. Shelagh is passionate about drawing and is happiest with her sketchbook and pencils. Her favourite subject is her daughter and it was her sketches of… Molly as a ballerina that inspired her illustrations for 'The Ballet Class'. Shelagh lives in Surrey with her daughter.