The Pirate's Ship

Gillian Rubinstein is known around the world as a novelist with many distinguished titles to her name. Several of her books have been adapted for the stage, including JAKE AND PETE. Gillian was awarded an Asialink fellowship in 1999, enabling her to continue her long-standing interest in Japan. She has also been writer-in-residence in schools in Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur, and in 2000 has been invited to International Schools in Tokyo and Jakarta. For Random House Australia, Gillian has been particularly successful with her picture books: MR PLUNKETT’S POOL won the Multicultural Award and SHARON KEEP YOUR HAIR ON was shortlisted for CBC Picture Book of the Year. JAKE AND PETE AND THE STRAY DOGS was shortlisted for the 1997 Festival Awards in South Australia.

Craig Smith has an excellent track record as a children’s book illustrator. He first teamed with Gary Crew to provide a remarkable interpretation of Troy Thompson’s Excellent Peotry Book and Troy Thompson’s Radical Prose Folio. His more recent awards include CBC Honour Book: Younger Readers (1999) for Bob the Builder and the Elves, Shortlisted CBC Book of the Year: Younger Readers for Billy the Punk (1996) and Shortlisted CBC for Not Again, Dad by Thurley Fowler (1995). Craig has also recently illustrated the Paul Jennings titles: The Cabbage Patch Fib and The Cabbage Patch War, and Sniffy the Sniffer Dog (Lothian Books, 2003) in Lothian’s Start-Ups series.