Rob Small Author

Chip Colquhoun began storytelling professionally in 2007. He has since presented Traditional Tales for Oxford Reading Tree, toured six UK family theatre shows, performed at Glastonbury Festival, represented Roald Dahl on ITV, and set a Guinness World Record with the World Storytelling Café. Oh – and also written many children’s books, and trained hundreds of teachers worldwide to inspire a love of literacy. He lives in Cambridgeshire with his wife Emma and two kittens.

Helen Simpson has 13 years’ teaching experience, mainly in EYFS and KS1. She specialises in drama and storytelling, leading her to collaborate with Chip to support story-led teaching in classrooms. An experienced English Lead, her favourite things in school are maps, Mantle of the Expert, outdoor learning, and finding rich texts to help children develop a lifelong love of books.

Rob Small has worked in schools across Milton Keynes and North Buckinghamshire for 11 years, teaching EYFS and Key Stages 1 and 2. He is currently a class teacher and Literacy Lead in a small village school, where he champions a love of reading through engaging lessons and diverse texts. He has also collaborated with teachers, authors, and booksellers to help children develop a lasting passion for literacy.

Korky Paul began his career scribbling for an advertising agency in Cape Town. His first illustration job was a book teaching English, then a pop-up called The Crocodile and the Dumper Truck – but it was his work on Winnie the Witch that won the Children’s Book Award in 1987 and made him a much-loved figure in the world of children’s books. He’s since illustrated for Oxford University Press, Penguin, Random House, and others. He lives in Oxford with his wife Susan.

Mario Coelho was born on the Brazilian island of Florianopolis. He worked as an artist and designer in textiles before moving to England in 1985. He’s since won the 2024 Royal Dragonfly Award for Best Picture Book Illustrations, and provided illustrations for the poet John Foster.