Antoine de Saint-Exupéry , born in Lyon in 1900, was a French writer and aviator. In 1921, he began his military service and trained as a pilot, and at the outbreak of World War II he joined the French Air Force flying reconnaissance missions. Later, he joined the Free French Forces but while flying a mission in the Rhone valley on July 31, 1944 he disappeared and was never seen again. It was assumed that he was shot down over the Mediterranean. An unidentifiable body wearing French colours was found several days later and buried in Carqueiranne that September. Published in 1943, The Little Prince has been translated into over 180 languages and sold over 140 million copies worldwide, making it one of the bestselling books in history. Chris Riddell , the 2015-2017 UK Children's Laureate, is an accomplished artist and the political cartoonist for the Observer. His books for children have enjoyed great acclaim and won a number of major prizes, including the 2001, 2004 and 2016 CILIP Kate Greenaway Medals.

In 2013, Goth Girl and the Ghost of a Mouse won the Costa Children's Book Award. His work for Macmillan includes the middle grade series Ottoline and The Cloud Horse Chronicles Duology, as well as the picture books The Emperor of Absurdia, Wendel and the Robots, and Once Upon a Wild Wood. Chris also illustrated Douglas Adams' The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and The Hunting of the Snark, and The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling. Chris has been honoured with an OBE in recognition of his illustration and charity work. He lives in Brighton, England with his family.