EDWARD ARDIZZONE has been described as" one of the most brilliant, satisfying people writing and illustrating children's books today".

• He has 12 picturestory books in the shops this Christmas. Over the years he has illustrated almost a hundred books written by other people.

• A book he illustrated for Eleanor Farjeon in 1955 was awarded the Carnegie Medal for the year's best children's book and the Hans Andersen Medal for the most distinguished contribution to international children's literature, • A book he wrote and illustrated the following year won the Libr a•r y Association's Kate Greenaway Medal.

• The New York Times has listed him among the top ten children's illustrators of the last half-century.

• Noel Streatfeild has said : "1 don't think it would be going too far to describe him as a genius."