Jemima Parker has been writing and sewing for as long as she can remember, and is passionate about nurturing creativity in children. She holds a degree in Visual Arts (Textiles) from the Australian National University School of Art and Design, and has exhibited widely throughout Australia and abroad.
Poppy Makes Pockets is Jemima’s first picture book. She was inspired to write it by her young nieces, who love to collect treasures but almost never have any pockets to carry them. Inevitably, Jemima ends up carrying a handful of special pebbles, leaves and sticks. She once sewed two large, brightly coloured pockets onto a pair of trousers for her two-year-old niece, so she could carry her own treasures.
When Jemima’s not writing, you’ll find her playing with her dogs, practicing yoga or curled up somewhere with a good book. She was born in a small town on Australia’s far-south coast, and now lives in Canberra.
Karen Erasmus is a qualified teacher who enjoys teaching illustration and design to TAFE students. She has illustrated numerous children’s picture books, including Teddy, the most beautiful boy in the world (written by Kylie Miller, Laneway Press, 2022) and Eva’s Imagination (written by Wenda Shurety, New Frontier, 2018).
Karen is originally from Devon, UK, but now lives on the south coast of Melbourne with her three children, husband, dogs and chickens.