About the Author

Joy Cowley is a prolific, widely published and much celebrated writer of fiction for adults and children. She began her career writing short stories and novels, followed by children's literature. Joy has written a remarkable range of children's books and stories, often illustrated by renowned artists. In 2005 Joy Cowley was made a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to children's literature. She lives in the small town of Featherston in the Wairarapa. Andrew Burdan is a self taught Wellington based illustrator who has worked in film, television and print media. Andrew has been illustrating children's educational resources and books for over 10 years, and is a regular contributor to the School Journal. His graphic novel Ngarimu, Te Tohu Toa was the winner of the 2011 LIANZA Te Kura Pounamu Award. A native speaker of Maori, Ngaere Roberts is a former Maori Immersion teacher and one of the principal writers for the draft curriculum for te reo Maori in mainstream schools.