About the Author

The Paul Jennings phenomenon began with the publication of Unreal! in 1985. Since then, kids all around the world have devoured his stories. Paul Jennings has been voted 'favourite author' by children in Australia over forty times. He has won every children's choice award in Australia. In 1995 Paul was made a Member of the Order of Australia for services to children's literature, and in 2001 was awarded the Dromkeen Medal for services to children's literature. Paul is the creator of the much-loved Singenpoo, Cabbage Patch and Gizmo series of books (with Ted Greenwood and Terry Denton), Spooner or Later, Duck for Cover and Freeze a Crowd, and the co-creator (with Morris Gleitzman) of the best-selling serialised novels, Wicked! and Deadly! Paul's short-story collection, Unseen, was awarded the 1999 Queensland Premier's Literary Award for Best Children's Book. His most recent books include his guide for parents, The Reading Bug ... and how you can help your child to catch it and several Rascal storybooks for early readers. His first novel, How Hedley Hopkins Did a Dare ... was published recently, and was shortlisted for the 2006 Children's Book Council of Australia Book of the Year Award: Younger Readers.