Stella Blackstone has written many best-selling titles for Barefoot Books, including the popular Cleo and Bear series and The Animal Boogie (1-84148-095-9), winner of the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal, 2001, (an award given to outstanding new products that enhance the lives of children). She lives in England, with her three children. Caroline Mockford is a mother of two young children. She has a degree in Fine Art and has taught art to very young children, which has given her invaluable insight into how children explore and learn through books. She works mainly in acrylics to achieve her trademark strong and bold colours.