Inspired by the real-life ‘Ugly Five’ safari animals, a funny, heart-warming rhyming story that is a joy to read aloud.

JULIA DONALDSON

Julia Donaldson has written some of the world’s best-loved children’s books, including modern classics The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo’s Child, which together have sold over 17 million copies worldwide, and the hugely successful What the Ladybird Heard adventures. Julia also writes fiction, including the Princess Mirror-Belle books illustrated by Lydia Monks, as well as poems, plays and songs -- and her brilliant live shows are always in demand. She was the UK Children’s Laureate 2011-13 and has been honoured with a CBE for Services to Literature. Julia and her husband Malcolm divide their time between West Sussex and Edinburgh.

AXEL SCHEFFLER

Axel Scheffler is the best-selling, award-winning illustrator of many of the world’s favourite picture books. Born in Hamburg, Axel moved to England over thirty years ago to study illustration. Perhaps best-known for his collaborations with Julia Donaldson, including the modern classic The Gruffalo, which has sold over 13.5 million copies worldwide and been translated into over 60 languages, Axel has also illustrated novelty titles for younger readers such as Noisy Farm and The Bedtime Bear, as well as the Pip and Posy series. Axel lives in London with his partner and daughter.