Satoshi Kitamura was born in Tokyo in 1956 and started work at the age of 19 as a commercial artist in advertising. He moved to London in 1979, working as a greetings card designer until, following an exhibition of his work at the Neal Street Gallery, Covent Garden, he was commissioned to produce his first picture book. Angry Arthur (1982), with text by Hiawyn Oram, earned him both the Mother Goose Award for the most exciting newcomer to British children's book illustration and the Japanese Picture-book Award.

His many other award-winning titles include: When Sheep Cannot Sleep: the Counting Book (1986), winner of The Parent's Choice, Illustration Prize (USA) and Children's Scientific Books Award (USA); Me and My Cat (1991), winner of the 2000 Nestlé Smarties Book Prize, Silver Award (0-5 years category); and The Ring of Words (1999), overall winner of the 1999 V&A National Art Library Illustration Award.

Working mainly in pen and watercolour and strongly influenced by the comics he read as a child, Kitamura's trademark quirky, humorous style and brilliant sense of design have earned him a large following. His most recent titles include Igor, the Bird Who Couldn't Sing (2005) and Stone Age Boy (2007).