ALEXANDER STURGIS is an education officer at the National Gallery, London. He is also The Great Xar, a magician performing at the National Gallery and on television. His television appearances include The Big Breakfast, The Word and Tricks & Tracks, as well as introducing paintings to children on the BBC's programme Hartbeat. His previous books include Introducing Rembrandt and Magic in Art (both published by Belitha Press). This is his first book for Frances Lincoln. LAUREN CHILD studied Illustration at Manchester Polytechnic and Decorative Arts at the City and Guilds in London. Her previous books include Clarice Bean, That's Me which won a bronze award in the 1999 Smarties Book Prize and was short-listed for the Kate Greenaway Medal; Beware of the Storybook Wolves and I Will Not Never Ever Eat a Tomato, winner of the Kate Greenaway Medal 2001; My Uncle is a Hunckle Says Clarice Bean (all Hodder) and Margaret Joy's Addy the Baddy (Viking). I Want a Pet was her first book for Frances Lincoln.