Claire O'Brien trained as a teacher and has done many jobs in her time including teaching English in Colombia and drama in the USA. She has also had her children's work published by Simon & Schuster. Claire lives in Heaton, Bradford. Tim Archbold was born in Northumberland and studied at the Newcastle College of Art and the Exeter College of Art and Design where he obtained a B. A. Hons in Graphic Design. He worked at the Newcastle School for Deaf Children and subsequently set himself up as a freelance illustrator. His reputation has gone from strength to strength and he has illustrated over 40 books. Tim also illustrated the excellent Kingfisher Sidesplitters: Knock, Knock! joke collection. His book Be Good, Gordon was a Guardian Book of the Year in 2001. He now lives in Kelso, Roxburghshire.