Mike Dumbleton was born in England and emigrated to Australia in 1973. He is a writer and Literacy Consultant. He worked as a teacher in South Australian High schools, as a Literacy Consultant in New York City schools and has also worked as a Literacy Curriculum Officer for the South Australian Education Department. In addition to children's books, he has written a range of educational texts.Part of his interest in writing stems from the fact that his grandfather was a local poet in an Oxfordshire village in England, who regularly recited his poems to the family, with or without requests!Mike's picture book Passing On, was shortlisted for the Children's Book Council of Australia 2002 awards. Muddled-up Farm was selected as 'Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year 2003' as well as the 'National Simultaneous Storytime book for 2004'. Cat was selected as an Honour Book in the Early Childhood section of the 2008 Book of the Year Awards. He was also the recipient of a 2005 Minister's Award for Outstanding Contribution to Improving Literacy, which recognises his work both as an educator and a writer over an extended period of time.