Sam McBratney was a teacher in his native Northern Ireland before becoming a full-time writer. His most famous picture book, Guess How Much I Love You? has become a best-selling modern classic. Ivan Bates has worked with Sam on numerous titles including Just You and Me and The Dark at the Top of the Stairs. Author Sam McBratney lives in County Antrim, N. Ireland; illustrator Ivan Bates lives in Norfolk, UK.