Sam McBratney spent his postwar childhood "in short trousers and Fair Isle jumpers". He studied at Trinity College, Dublin before becoming a teacher and took early retirement to concentrate on his career as a writer. In 2004, Sam reunited with Anita Jeram to produce You're All My Favourites and later a series of four storybooks featuring the Nutbrown Hares: Guess How Much I Love You All Year Round. He lives in Ireland. Anita Jeram did a foundation course in visual studies at Manchester Polytechnic, followed by a degree in illustration She says that illustrating Guess How Much I Love You was a labour of love:."Every time I read this book, I want to cry. The story reminds me so much of my own son, who often plays this kind of game with me when it's time for bed." She lives in Northern Ireland with her family and a menagerie of pets.