Michael Rosen started writing as a teenager, when his mother needed some poems for Radio programs she was making. While at college, he wrote a play which was staged at the Royal Court theatre in London. Rosen's first book was published in 1974, and he is one of Britain's leading children's poets. Michael Rosen launched the National Year of Literacy project, which encouraged children to help produce an Anthology to be used during the Literacy Hour in primary schools. Children ages 4-11 were invited to submit poems and illustrations featuring their favorite tree. Rosen also led the final judging sessions to decide which submissions would be included.
Jill Tomlinson never intended to be a writer. She trained as an opera singer, and then decided to have a family whilst her voice matured. But illness intervened, and she had to find another outlet for her energies. She started on a journalism course, and by the third lesson decided she wanted to write for children. So she did! She is most known for her stories, 'The Cat Who Wanted to Grow Up', 'The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark', 'The Gorilla Who Wanted to Grow Up', 'The Otter Who Wanted to Know', 'The Penguin Who Wanted to Find Out' and 'The Aardvark Who Wasn't Sure'.Paul Howard is a very successful illustrator whose illustrations for the picture book of 'The Owl Who was Afraid of the… Dark' by Jill Tomlinson have been widely acclaimed. Paul lives in Belfast with his wife and three children. 'Bugville' was the first book Paul has written, followed by the sequel 'Trouble in Bugville'.