First Day

Margaret Wild is one of Australia’s most prolific and courageous authors, unafraid to tackle difficult subjects, such as death, old age and social deprivation with both sensitivity and openness. Her heart-warming, moving picture books have been acclaimed both in Australia and overseas.Margaret’s talents have won her many awards throughout her career. In 1990, she won the Children’s Book Council of Australia’s Picture Book of the Year for The Very Best of Friends, published by Margaret Hamilton Books. Other CBC short-listed and Commended books by Margaret include: Let the Celebrations Begin!; There’s a Sea in My Bedroom; Creatures in the Beard; Mr Nick’s Knitting; Thank You Santa; A Bit of Company; The Slumber Party; and Toby.In 1996, The Midnight Gang, a whimsical, joyous picture book about the night prowlings of a group of toddlers, was published by Omnibus Books. It was short-listed for the 1997 Children’s Book Council of Australia Picture Book of the Year Award.

Kim Gamble was born in Sydney. He moved around, trained as a teacher and worked in a variety of occupations before beginning, at the age of thirty-six, to illustrate stories for children. His first assignment was for the School Magazine, and he continued illustrating stories for the magazine for many years. It was there he met Anna Fienberg, with whom he has since produced more than twenty books, including The Magnificent Nose and Other Marvels, the Tashi series and Tashi picture books, the Minton series and a book close to his heart: Joseph. He worked with many authors and illustrated over seventy books in his career.