Author and poet John Dougherty has been writing children's books for over twenty years. His work ranges quite literally from the sublime to the ridiculous, including as it does the hilarious and surreal Stinkbomb and Ketchup-Face series and There's a Pig Up My Nose, and the beautiful and multi-award winning The Hare-Shaped Hole. His books have been translated into more than 25 languages worldwide. A former teacher, John was one of the first Patrons of Reading in the UK and is a passionate advocate for both public libraries and the importance of reading for pleasure. Born in Northern Ireland, he now lives in Gloucestershire with his wife Jennie.