Winnie Goes Batty

Valerie Thomas was born in Melbourne, Australia, and has lived there for most of her life. She is a teacher, and has taught in primary, secondary, and special schools in Australia and England, as well as lecturing in English Teaching Method in a Teachers College in Melbourne.

In 1987 her phenomenally successful children's book Winnie the Witch, illustrated by Korky Paul, was published by Oxford University Press and won the Children's Book of the Year Award.  It has since been translated into more than twenty-five languages around the world, and adapted for CD-ROM.  Since then Valerie has written many more fabulous Winnie adventures.

Korky Paul's bright energetic style is instantly recognisable. With a string of awards to his name, including both the Kate Greenaway Award and the Red House Children's Book Award, he is best-known for his portrayal of Winnie the Witch, everyone's favourite magical mischief maker. Korky has two grown children and lives with his wife in Oxford.