Penny Matthews has written more than thirty books for children and young adults. She writes in a variety of genres and has won many awards, including the Children’s Book Council of Australia Book of the Year (Early Childhood) Award, the Environment Award for Children’s Literature and the Davitt Award for Children’s and Young Adult Literature. Her titles with Walker include Finch, a middle-grade novel, and a picture book, Maddie’s First Day. She lives in Adelaide.