MARA BERGMAN is the author of more than twenty books for young children, the most recent being The Tall Man and the Small Mouse, illustrated by Birgitta Sif. Snip Snap Alligator won the Stockport Children's Book Award and a Parents' Choice Award (USA); Oliver Who Would Not Sleep was shortlisted for the Stockport Children's Book Award and the Booktrust Early Years Award, and Oliver Who Travelled Far and Wide won the Booktrust Early Years Award. Mara works in London as an editor and lives in Tunbridge Wells, Kent. She also writes poetry, enjoys walking her dogs and swimming (but not at the same time), loves aubergine and hot chocolate (but not together) and was born in New York City on leap year day.