A Near Thing for Captain Najork

Russell Hoban is the renowned author of many famous novels, including Turtle Diary and Riddley Walker, which won the John W. Campbell Award for science fiction. He has also written over 50 children's books, including such classics as The Mouse and His Child, Bedtime for Frances and The Sea-Thing Child. Born in Pennsylvania in 1925, he moved to London in 1969, where he lived until his death in 2011.

Quentin Blake was born in Sidcup, Kent, in 1932. After studying English at Cambridge University and Fine Arts at Chelsea Art School, he became a teacher. Quentin is now one of the best-known and best-loved author/illustrators of children's books. His drawings were first published in "Punch" when he was 16. He has illustrated nearly 300 books including books by Roald Dahl, which are now forever linked with his characters, and John Yeoman and has produced some films for children on BBC television. For many years he taught at the Royal College of Art, where he was head of the Illustration Department from 1978 to 1986. He has won many awards and prizes, and was made an CBE in 2005. According to The Guardian, he was 'already a national institution' when he was appointed the first Children's Laureate in 1999. His more recent books include "Michael Rosen’s Sad Book" and "The Rights of the Reader".