Jill Paton Walsh is a distinguished writer, best-known for her adult novel, Knowledge of Angels, which was shortlisted for the 1994 Booker Prize. Among her many children`s titles are The Dolphin Crossing `widely acknowledged as a modern classic`; Gaffer Samson`s Luck `Winner of the Smarties Prize`; The Emperor`s Winding Sheet `Winner of the Whitbread Award` and Thomas and the Tinners `Winner of the Smarties Prize`.