Jez Alborough is a hugely popular author and illustrator of books for children, well known for his stories about Eddie and the Bear, Duck and Bobo the chimp (star of Hug, Tall and Yes). His tales about Eddy and the Bear also inspired a BAFTA-winning animated TV series. Jez was born and grew up in Kingston-upon-Thames. He loved drawing and painting from an early age and always wanted to be an artist. He graduated with a BA Honours degree in Graphic Design, and started to look for illustration work. He lives in the UK. After college, he spent two years chasing after editorial illustration commissions along with countless other art school graduates until he found that being able to write as well as draw gave him a head start in the competitive world of children's books. In 1984 his first book, Bare Bear, was published and in 1985 Jez was runner-up in The Mother Goose Award for this book. He has now written and illustrated over thirty books for children, including such favourites as Cuddly Dudley and Where's My Teddy?.