Cesca Adey

An exciting new fiction talent whose first novel, Chloe, is based on the author's personal experiences of adoption.

John Agard

Best known for his collections of Caribbean poetry, John is also a well known writer, anthologist and performer of poetry for children and adults.

Grace Nichols and John Agard

Allan Ahlberg

One of the most acclaimed authors of children's books, Allan has written nearly 140 titles for children.,Allan Ahlberg, one of the most acclaimed and successful authors of children's books--including the best-selling Jolly Postman series--says that he dreamed of becoming a writer since the age of twelve. But his route to that goal was somewhat circuitous. Other jobs along the way included postman (not an especially jolly one, he recalls), gravedigger, plumber, and teacher. The author wrote his first book when he was thirty-seven, after a decade of teaching--a profession that he maintains is "much harder" than being a writer. Allan Ahlberg's books with Candlewick Press include MONKEY DO!, illustrated by Andre Amstutz; MOCKINGBIRD and THE BRAVEST EVER BEAR, by Paul Howard; and THE SNAIL HOUSE and TREASURE HUNT, illustrated by Gillian Tyler. His latest work, HALF A PIG was illustrated by his daughter, Jessica Ahlberg, in her picture-book debut. The prolific author also wrote the hilarious THE MAN WHO WORE ALL HIS CLOTHES, THE WOMAN WHO WON THINGS, and THE CAT WHO GOT CARRIED AWAY, the first three books of what he hopes will be a six-book series about the ever-surprising Gaskitt family. Of the Gaskitts, he says, "They may be more than a little eccentric, but there's a real sense of loving unity and warmth in their cozy, if somewhat unconventional, daily lives." These quirky stories, which take place "in a universe in which cats can talk, refrigerators and doormats leave messages, and everything is animated," are written as early chapter books, abundantly and humorously illustrated by Katharine McEwen. Allan Ahlberg says that if he hadn't become a writer, he would have loved to be a soccer player. He lives in England with his family.

Jessica Ahlberg

Illustrator of Half a Pig and daughter of acclaimed children's author Allan Ahlberg.

Jez Alborough

A successful picture book author and illustrator, creator of the Eddy and the Bear series and Some Dogs Do.,Some people write children's books for their own children, says Jez Alborough. "But I don't have any children. I write for the child I was." And it's clear that he remembers the experience well. His rhythmic writing makes his books a joy to read aloud, while his bold, colorful style is humorous and appealing and enormously popular with children. His hilarious picture book WHERE'S MY TEDDY?, together with its sequels IT'S THE BEAR! and MY FRIEND BEAR, have sold more than a million copies. With the irresistible HUG, Jez Alborough explores a somewhat different format: a book of very few words and very big heart. A little chimp named Bobo is in search of a hug from a special someone, and along the way he sees all his animal pals hugging in their many different ways. "Bobo and his mommy just had to be chimps," the author-illustrator explains. "They've got the best arms for giving hugs." In celebration of HUG's publication, Jez Alborough and 500 schoolchildren in London embraced each other for fifteen seconds in a giant "hugathon," raising nearly six thousand dollars for charity and earning a place in the GUINNESS BOOK OF WORLD RECORDS. Jez Alborough's most recent tales bring Bobo back in the much-anticipated follow-ups to HUG. The newly released YES deals with bedtime for Bobo, while in TALL, Bobo finds that his jungle friends are happy to help him feel tall--but that small is still the perfect size for being safe in Mommy's arms. "Bobo experiences feeling small as well as feeling tall," the author notes. "But in the end he learns that whatever size you are is the size you're meant to be." Another tale from Jez Alborough, SOME DOGS DO, follows a puppy who one day floats into the sky, discovering he has the ability to fly. Nothing can keep him down--except maybe the skeptics all around him. While writing, the author discovered that he had more in common with his character than he initially realized. "At first I thought my idea about a dog who finds out he can fly--but starts to question his experience when no one else believes him--was far too wacky for my editor to take seriously," Jez Alborough admits. "Then I realized that the whole point of the story is that miracles do happen, so I showed the idea anyway, and a miracle did happen: it became SOME DOGS DO." Jez Alborough stays connected with his readership by spending a good deal of time talking with schoolchildren. When they ask where his ideas come from, he answers with a poem he wrote: Ideas are like butterflies. If I chase them, they will get away. But if I sit perfectly still, and I'm lucky, one might land with a tickle on my open hand. Then I just look as the butterfly opens up its wings like the pages of a book, and I think: "Aha! I will write that book." Then the butterfly flies, leaving me to capture it between my pages. Jez Alborough and his wife live in London, where they both like to practice Shiatsu, a form of Japanese massage. The author-illustrator also enjoys guitar playing, laughing, roller-skating, learning how to do new things, and juggling, a hobby he finds relaxing when working on a book and has been known to demonstrate in bookstores.

Brian Alderson

Judy Allen

Whitbread Award-winning author of fiction for children and adults.

Anuska Allepuz