Russell Hoban (1925-2011) first became famous for his children's picture books about a badger named Frances and other animal characters that have a lot in common with children we know - Bedtime for Frances, A Baby Sister for Frances, Bread and Jam for Frances, and Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas, among others - and for a young adult novel, The Mouse and His Child. Hoban was born in Pennsylvania and served in World War II. He lived with his wife, Lillian Hoban, who illustrated many of his books, and their four children in Connecticut until 1969, when he moved to London. There he married Gundela Ahl and had three more children. In England, Hoban wrote acclaimed adult novels, including Lion of Boaz-Jachin and Riddley Walker.