Atinuke was born in Nigeria and spent her childhood in both Africa and the United Kingdom. She is the author of Too Small Tola and Too Small Tola and the Three Fine Girls as well as the best-selling Anna Hibiscus series, illustrated by Lauren Tobia, and Africa, Amazing Africa: Country by Country, illustrated my Mouni Feddag. Atinuke started her career as an oral storyteller of tales from the African continent. Now she writes about contemporary life in Nigeria. She lives on a mountain overlooking the sea in West Wales.

Onyinye Iwu was born in Italy, where she spent most of her childhood, then moved to the UK when she was a teenager. A teacher by day and an artist by night, Onyinye Iwu is the illustrator of Too Small Tola and Too Small Tola and the Three Fine Girls by Atinuke and many other acclaimed books for young readers. She lives in London.