Shirley Hughes grew up in a seaside town near Liverpool around the time of World War II. After she finished her schooling she went to Liverpool Art School to study costume design, and later, at the prestigious Ruskin School of Art, Oxford. While at Oxford, she was encouraged to make lithographic illustrations. Soon she was commissioned by publishers and doing works for Noel Streathfield's "The Bell Family" and Dorothy Edward's My Naughty Little Sister series. Iit was in the 1960s when Shirley Hughes wrote and illustrated her first book, "Lucy and Tom's Day". Shirley has illustrated more than 200 books in her lifetime. Her many awards include the Kate Greenaway Medal and the prestigious Eleanor Farjeon Award for her services to children's literature. Her other notable books include "Dogger" and "The Nursery Collection".