Jillian Powell began writing with a big paper pad and coloured crayons when she was four. She used to make up 'news' stories and draw the pictures for them. When she grew up, she started writing short stories and features for magazines and then began working on books for children. She has written over 250 books including picture books and rhyming stories on ghosts, pirates, scarecrows and a dancing hippo. She also writes information books on every kind of subject from food and festivals to baby animals.