About the Author

Noel Langley was a successful novelist, playwright, screenwriter and director. While under contract to MGM he was one of the scriptwriters for The Wizard of Oz. He was chosen for the job on the basis of his children's story, The Tale of the Land of Green Ginger -- a children's classic which has seldom been out of print since it was first published in 1937. Desbarollda, The Waltzing Mouse is Noel Langley's only other book for children. Though not primarily a children's writer, several of Noel Langley's many filmscripts were based on favourite classics: Tom Brown's Schooldays (1950), Scrooge (1951), Pickwick Papers(scripted & directed 1952), Ivanhoe (1952) and The Prisoner of Zenda (1952). Edward Jeffrey Irving Ardizzone was born in Haiphong, Vietnam but lived most of his life in England. Whilst working as a clerk in the City of London he studied art at evening classes. Edward Ardizzone became a freelance artist in 1927 and although his work appeared in many magazines, it is as a book illustrator that he is best remembered. He was a prolific book illustrator covering a wide range of publications from children's books to novels by Trollope and Thackeray. He is also known for the books for children he both wrote and illustrated starting with Little Tim and the Brave Sea Captain (1936).