The Pied Piper of Hamelin

Sir Michael Morpurgo

Sir Michael Morpurgo is one of Britain's best-loved writers for children. He has written over 100 books and won many prizes, including the Smarties Prize, Blue Peter Book Award and the Whitbread Award. His recent bestselling novels include Listen to the Moon, A Medal for Leroy and Shadow. His novel War Horse has been successfully adapted as a West End and Broadway theatre play and a major film by Steven Spielberg. A former Children's Laureate, Michael is also the co-founder, with his wife Clare, of the charity Farms for City Children.

Children's Laureate 2003-2005

Emma Chichester Clark

Emma Chichester Clark was born on Hyde Park Corner, London, but grew up in the countryside in Ireland in an old white farmhouse surrounded by fields. She began to make books with sewn-up spines when she was about five. 

At school, aged about 16, Emma discovered a love of illustration. She went to Bristol Polytechnic to do a Foundation course. She went on to study at the Chelsea School of Art and the Royal College, where she was taught by Quentin Blake. Her first book, Listen to This!, won the 1988 Mother Goose Award for best newcomer to children's book illustration.

Emma has gone on to illustrate books by Roald Dahl, Peter Dickinson, Kevin Crossley-Holland and Michael Morpurgo. She has also written and illustrated many of her own books, including the immensely popular blue Kangaroo series. The first book, I Love You Blue Kangaroo, won awards in Italy and the USA, as well as being shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway Medal.