Kanako Usui was born in Japan in 1978 and later moved to the UK to pursue her studies in art and design, graduating from Kingston University with a BA in illustration/animation in 2003.

Her first book for children, The Fantastic Mr Wani (2005), which follows the adventures of a crocodile who is late for a party, won the Booktrust Early Year's Award for Best New Illustrator (2005).

Lazy Santa & Toto was published in 2005 and Don’t Panic Parrot! in 2007.

Kanako Usui lives and works in London.