Alexei Tolstoy (1883-1945) was a Russian author. Accumulated experience of life had inculcated in his heart a profound love for the Russian people, and he became more exacting of himself as a writer. In progressive stages his consuming interest in the destiny of Russia and his endeavor to shed true light upon the character of the Russian people became the outstanding feature of the products of his artistic pen. He also wrote 'Peter the Great' and 'Aelita'.Helen Oxenbury is one of the most popular and acclaimed children’s book artists working today. She has been honoured twice with the Kate Greenaway medal, for ‘The Quangle Wangle’s Hat and the Dragon of an Ordinary Family’ and Lewis Carroll’s ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’. She has set a new standard in board books and sold millions of copies of them worldwide. Helen lives in London.