Simon Mole

Simon Mole is an acclaimed children's poet (and sleep deprived dad) who has shared stages with Michael Rosen, Kae Tempest and John Hegley. His first picture book Kites was published in 2019 followed by I Love My Bike in 2021. Simon is a National Poetry Day Ambassador, with over ten years' experience using rap and poetry in community and education settings, including projects with Great Ormond Street Hospital and Arsenal Football Club. The tutorial videos on his YouTube channel are used by hundreds of thousands of children and teachers across the world each year, and have been featured on BBC Bitesize. Simon is also one half of kids comedy rap duo Mole & Gecko (you can probably guess which half). Write a poem with Simon in just ten minutes right now: www.youtube.com/simonmole

Sam Usher spent most of his childhood reading, drawing and forgetting to do his schoolwork. His debut picture book, Can You See Sassoon?, was shortlisted for the Waterstones Children's Book Prize and the Red House Award. He has since written and illustrated We are Not Frogs by Michael Morpurgo (Barrington Stoke), Refuge by Anne Booth (Nosy Crow) and two of his own stories: Snow and Rain (Templar Publishing). He lives in London, where he enjoys trespassing and playing the piano.