Maree Coote is a writer, designer, illustrator, and photographer. Her many creative passions converge in her sense of place and history, and she brings this to life through stunningly visual books for a range of audiences. She is the author of two gold award winning histories The Melbourne Book  and The Art of Being Melbourne , and is author and illustrator of eight children's picture books, including When You Go To Melbourne , Spellbound , Alphabet City Zoo , and The Black Pot Belly .