Biographical note

Jane studied English at Exeter and Art History at York. She has worked on various Usborne dictionaries, encyclopaedias and learning books, and her edition of the Usborne Illustrated Dictionary was awarded a prize for a significant contribution to children's literacy. She has two sons and three stepsons who are now scattered across the globe. She gets a huge thrill from seeing her books on sale when she travels to the USA and Australia. Maddie Frost creates her illustrations by making handmade textured and patterned swatches with materials like watercolour paint, crayon, pencils, and even kitchen spices! She scans the swatches into Photoshop and digitally cuts the shapes she needs to make something. Her final images can consist of anywhere from fifty to five hundred pieces that are all layered together. Maddie lives in Arlington, Massachusetts, with her husband.