Lydia Monks is one of the best-loved illustrators of today. Her first picture book title, I Wish I Were a Dog, won the Smarties Bronze Award in 1999. Since then, her many picture books include No More Eee-orrhh!, Ooo, Ooo, Ooo, Gorilla! and the much-loved Aaaarrgghh, Spider! (Egmont), and various titles by Julia Donaldson and Carol Ann Duffy (Macmillan). Lydia was the official World Book Day illustrator in 2005. Since being published in April 2004, Aaaarrgghh, Spider! has had enormous success, going into eight co-editions. Lydia lives in Sheffield with her illustrator husband Frazer and her two daughters.