Quentin Blake is one of the world's favourite and best-loved illustrators, his instantly-recognisable work featuring in collaborations with authors including Roald Dahl, Michael Rosen and John Yeoman. He has illustrated over 200 books for adults and children and won prizes including the Whitbread Award, the Kate Greenaway Medal, and the Hans Christian Andersen Award.

John Yeoman wrote his first children's book after leaving Cambridge University, where he read English. This began a collaboration with Quentin Blake in 1960 which continued for over forty years. Prior to his death in 2024, John taught for 28 years, before retiring to spend more time writing, reading and relaxing in France.