About the Author

Anna McQuinn trained as a teacher, specialising in Children's Literature, and worked directly with children for a number of years before moving into publishing. Since then, she has been working in children's publishing for over 20 years - as an editor, publisher and writer, as well as running workshops and courses in schools and libraries. Currently she combines both these areas, working part time as a Community Librarian for Sure Start Acton, running Mother & Toddler Groups and Family Book Groups in Acton Library. Anna spends the rest of the time writing. She is author of over 25 children's books and is a voracious reader. Ben Frey was born in Calgary, Canada but has spent almost 97% of his life on the west coast of British Columbia. Growing up in such a beautiful place inspired Ben at a young age to learn to create. In the first grade, he first realized that he could draw when he noticed that his letter 'O' looked like a character from a comic strip. It was all downhill from there! After graduating from Vancouver's Capilano College's Illustration and Design program in 2007, Ben has been working as a freelance illustrator. Drawing has always been his passion and enjoys illustration as a career. Among one of the many projects that he has worked on is Alanna Books' title, My Friend Jamal; a story about two best friends that are proud of each other's cultural diversity. Illustration has brought Ben to Berlin, Germany to seek even more artistic inspiration but will be moving back to Vancouver to begin working on new and exciting children's picture books. He also will be returning to his folk band, Adelaide, to begin recording on an album...and enjoying the beauty of that part of the world that initially inspired him to be an artist. Books by Ben Frey My Friend Jamal - Alanna Books My Friend Amy - Alanna Book