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As a little boy, Jonathan Bentley liked football and drawing. When he was eight years old, he realised he wouldn’t be good enough to play football for Leeds United – so he concentrated on drawing instead. He is now one of Australia’s most treasured illustrators. Jonathan has worked with authors such as Margaret Wild and Andrew Daddo, as well as writing and illustrating many of his own titles. His award-winning picture books – including A House of Her Own, Pink, The Second Sky, Where is Bear? and Cat and Dog – have been published all over the world.

Patrick Guest was raised in the Melbourne beachside suburb of Seaford. He works as a Physiotherapist by day and a best-selling children’s author by night. Patrick received huge acclaim for his story The Second Sky, which is illustrated by Jonathan Bentley. It was shortlisted for the 2018 CBCA Picture Book of the Year Award, and also selected by the Victorian State Government for their ‘Books for Preps’ initiative, which delivers a free book bundle to every Victorian prep student in their first week of school. Patrick’s fourth title, The Dress-Up Box, illustrated by Nathaniel Eckstrom, has also established itself as a much-loved Australian classic. It was shortlisted for the 2019 CBCA Picture Book of the Year Award and also selected for the ‘Books for Preps’ bundle. Patrick has also found success overseas, with his books selling into seven different countries.