Dorothy Butler is an internationally recognised authority on children's books and literacy. She is a graduate of Auckland University and was awarded an OBE in 1993 for services to literature. She has won numerous New Zealand, British, American and Japanese awards. Dorothy is the mother of a large family and lives in a lovingly restored heritage house in KareKare by the ocean. Lyn Kriegler is an American-born graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University and holds an honours (BFA) degree in Fine Art and Illustration. She settled in New Zealand in 1974 and formed a happy working partnership with Dorothy Butler in 1978. They have since collaborated on many books together. Lyn lives and works from her studio, a converted stable, in KareKare Beach.