'...this interesting and informative collection.' -- Evening Echo 20020928 'a factual, well photographed book...There is a lot of detail, but as there are so many pictures and illustrations, the information is broken up into manageable chunks.' -- The School Librarian 20030301

Paul Dowswell went to univeristy in London and stayed in the city until 1991, working for the National Sound Archive, The Science Museum, BBC Books and Time Life. He began his publishing career as a picture researcher before becoming a writer and editor. He now works freelance and specialises in children's information books. 'The Complete Book of the Microscope' (Usborne) which Paul edited and co-wrote won the 1999 Rhone-Poulenc Junior Prize for Science Books, and 'Usborne's Medieval Messenger' was short-listed for the 1997 Times Educational Supplement Information Book Award.