Playful Little Penguins

Tony Mitton has been reading and writing since he was 9. He began writing specifically for children around the age of 40 while still working as a primary school and special needs teacher. He now works full-time as a writer and sometimes performs his poems in schools and libraries and occasionally at other venues, mainly in the UK. His main published work consists of solo collections of lyric and narrative poetry, and verse picture books illustrated by a range of illustrators. His picture books include Down by the Cool of the Pool (with Guy Parker-Rees) and The Somethingosaur (with Russell Ayto). He was recently contracted to rewrite the English verse texts for Dick Bruna’s Miffy series of preschool books.

Guy Parker-Rees has illustrated many bestselling Orchard books, including K IS FOR KISSING A COOL KANGAROO and THE CHIMPANZEES OF HAPPYTOWN by Giles Andreae; DOWN BY THE COOL OF THE POOL, DINOSAURUMPUS!, and ALL AFLOAT ON NOAH’S BOAT by Tony Mitton; QUIET! by Paul Bright; and THE HIPPO-NOT-AMUS by Tony and Jan Payne. He lives in Brighton, England.