David McKee was born and brought up in South Devon, where he went from grammar school to Plymouth Art College. Whilst still at college he started selling one-off cartoons to newspapers and on graduation, he began to contribute to such publications as Punch, Times Education Supplement and the Reader's Digest. His first book, Two Can Toucan was published in 1964 and since then he has written and illustrated numerous children's books. As well as his own books, David illustrates for a number of other writers including Michael Bond's Paddington Bear and Forrest Wilson's SuperGran books.