Tim, Ted and the Pirates

Ian Whybrow's many popular successes range from picture books to novels for older children. Best known for his original humour, he always writes with adult readers as well as young ones in mind. He has a brilliant ear for voices, and takes pride in the fact that his work reads aloud very well. 'I loved being read to as a child, ' he says. 'And I loved the sense that my parents were enjoying it too.
For me, that's the acid test for any book - that there's something in it for everyone to enjoy. Russell Ayto had a varied career before turning his attention to children's book illustration. He worked as both a postman and a scientific officer. He has illustrated numerous books for children including 'The Witch's Children and the Queen', winner of the Smarties Gold Award, 2003, and 'The Witch's Children Go to School' which won The Funniest Book for Children Aged 6 and Under, a category of the Roald Dahl Funny Prize, 2008.
He lives in Cornwall with his wife and two young children.