Alison Lester grew up on a farm by the sea, and first rode a horse as a baby in her father's arms. Her picture books mix imaginary worlds with everyday life, encouraging children to believe in themselves and celebrate the differences that make them special. Alison is involved in many community art projects and spends part of every year travelling to remote Indigenous communities, using her books to help children and adults write and draw about their own lives. In 2012, Alison became Australia's first Children's Book Laureate, a position she shared with Boori Monty Pryor. In 2016, she was awarded the Dromkeen Medal for her outstanding achievement in the creation of Australian children's and young adult literature, and in 2018 she became the first children's book creator to win the Melbourne Prize for Literature, for her outstanding contribution to Australian literature and cultural and intellectual life. In 2019, Alison was awarded an Australia Post Legends Award and featured on a stamp, as well as being the recipient of a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the 2019 Australia Day Honours List.
'This is a gentle, charming book with a poetic text and a haunting refrain.' Stephanie Owen Reeder, Canberra Times 'This is vintage Alison Lester. There are the hills...the rounded snow gums, the little pictures which break up the succession of larger paintings and, as always, the warmth of the family enveloping us all.' Moira Robinson, Magpies 'The illustrations are stunning and contribute greatly to the richness of the story...each page is a visual treat. The yellows and greens of the Australian landscape coupled with the vibrant pinks and oranges of the travelling show make the pages sing.' Better Reading