James Riordan grew up during the war. After he left school he worked as a postman, a barman, a crate stacker, a railway clerk and a double bass player before doing his national service. After demobilization he did a joint honours degree in Social Science and Russian and then spent five years in Moscow working as a translator. Back in England he lectured at Birmingham and Bradford Universities before becoming Professor of Russian at Surrey University. In 1999, he won the NASEN book award for Sweet Clarinet (OUP) His book, The Prisoner has been nominated for the Carnegie Medal. Alex Ayliffe is a well-known children's book illustrator, whose distinctive papercut illustrations have great child appeal. Her board book Boo Barney won the Sainsbury's Baby Book Award. She is now a firm favourite on the Orchard list for her titles with Margaret Mayo including Dig Dig Digging and Emergency.