Edward Ardizzone began his career as an artist and Illustrator in 1927. In 1936 he made a picture book of a story he had told his children - the classic LITTLE TIM AND THE BRAVE SEA CAPTAIN. This developed into the internationally loved LITTLE TIM series, described by Maurice Sendak as "the saltiest and most satisfying picture books created in the last generation."

Famous as a war artist and as a distinguised member of the Royal Academy, Ardizzone is also widely considered to be the foremost illustrator of his generation. He illustrated more than 170 books, and as well as his own work, he illustrated books by Eleanor Farjeon, Graham Greene, James Reeves and Dylan Thomas.
He was awarded the Kate Greenaway Medal in 1956 for TIM ALL ALONE and the CBE in 1971. He was married with three children and died in 1979.