Jillian Powell began writing with a big paper pad and coloured crayons when she was four. When she grew up, she started writing short stories and features for magazines and then began working on books for children. She has written over 250 books including picture books and rhyming stories on ghosts, pirates, scarecrows and a dancing hippo. She also writes information books on every kind of subject from food and festivals to baby animals. Series Editor, Kay Hiatt has been an English Advisor, Headteacher, Ofsted Inspector, manager of the National Literacy Strategy and project leader of a PSA for Raising Standards in Literacy at Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1. She is a consultant for the Basic Skills Agency and most recently a freelance Literacy consultant and author of many books and articles.