As a primary teacher in the 1970s, Michael Morpurgo was unable to find books which excited and inspired his class. His solution was simple: he began writing them himself. Since then he has become one of Britain's best known and most prolific children's writers whose books have won countless prestigious awards including the Carnegie Medal and the Whitbread Prize. He was appointed Children's Laureate in May 2003. He lives in Iddesleigh, Devon, with his wife, Clare.