Biographical note

Emma Allen was a trained speech pathologist, specialising in early childhood, before she returned to university to pursue a lifelong love of literature. The Terrible Suitcase won the 2013 CBCA Book of the Year: Early Childhood award. She writes from her Canberra home where she lives with her husband Richard and three young children Harriet, Rupert and Hazel. Hannah Sommerville creates enchanting watercolour, pen and pencil drawings in her studio on the South Coast of NSW. The daughter of a ceramicist, Hannah earned a bachelor of Bachelor of Creative Arts (Visual Arts and Graphic Design) at the University of Wollongong in 2006. It was at this time she met her husband, Dean, with whom she has two small children. She draws inspiration from her young family and coastal community. Hannah is a storyteller who enjoys creating picture books that capture the imagination, tenderness and playfulness that surround children and family life.