Reading Champion: Poor Bear: Independent Reading Green 5

About Lynne Benton

Lynne Benton was born in Bournemouth but moved to Bath at 18 to train as a teacher and has lived there ever since. She has taught in several primary schools in the area as well as working as pianist and receptionist in a dancing school and bringing up four children. In 1982 she and her husband Robin a fellow-teacher and composer co-wrote a musical play for primary schools based on the story of Jason and the Golden Fleece (still happily in print) but it was only when their children began leaving home for university that she began writing seriously. In 1996 she was a prizewinner in the Independent's Children's Story of the Year competition and since then has had several fiction books published. As well as writing longer novels for older children she enjoys writing humorous bite-size stories for younger ones. She welcomes invitations to go into schools and talk to children about her books since it keeps her in touch with her readers who she finds a continual source of inspiration. Alex Naidoo is a London based artist illustrator designer and author a qualified and experienced teacher and holds a Masters Degree in Digital Media. She is at her happiest when wearing fluffyslippers doodling and within reach of a giant mug of tea. She works mainly as a digital artist but will frequently whip out a sketchpad and start scribbling when queuing in shops waiting for the bus or when hit by sudden inspiration in the middle of the night. She lives with her partner and their two sons and they are a family of stationary addicts bookworms and chocoholics.