Louie's dad is a wrestler - The Perculator - but not a famous or even particularly successful one. All of Louie's dad's friends are wrestlers too, and they all wear their masks while milling around the barbie. For all the size and muscle and wrestling masks of The Perculator and his friends, they are actually terrified of Louie's mum, who is the real ruler and strength of the family!

About the Author

Matt Zurbo is the author of two young adult novels, Idiot Pride (short listed for the CBCA Awards, Older Readers, in 1998, and Flyboy and the Invisible (2001), as well as four picture books: Blow Kid, Blow, illustrated by Jeff Raglus, I Got a Rocket, also illustrated by Dean Gorrisen, and two books published in 2008, Fred the Croc, illustrated by Sarah Dunk and Lu-Lu s Wish, illustrated by Ben de Quadros-Wander. His other picture book with Lothian, to be published in 2008, is Lulu s Wish. Matt works in the forests of the Otway Ranges and has also worked as a comedian and radio presenter. He has written articles for the Age and the Herald Sun, and contributed numerous short stories to editions of Australian Short Stories. Dean Gorissen has been illustrating professionally since 1992, for books, magazines, newspapers and other corporate clients (including the Victorian Arts Centre and Coles Myer). Among other awards, his work has appeared in Communication Arts Illustration Annual, The Australian and New Zealand Illustration Awards and the MADC. Additionally, Dean has produced character designs for major food and beverage brands, as well as adapting his own character designs for Penguin s best-selling Deadly books by Paul Jennings and Morris Gleitzman for the Deadly animated series. His first picture book with Matt Zurbo, I got a Rocket!, was shortlisted for the Crichton Award for first-time illustration in 1995 and has also been developed into an animated television series.

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