Lola will not eat peas. In fact, she won't eat carrots, potatoes, mushrooms, eggs, sausages, cauliflower, cabbage or baked beans. And she will absolutely not eat a tomato. When Charlie discovers that peas are green drops from Greenland, and that carrots are orange twiglets from Jupiter, even Lola is tempted to clear her plate.

Lauren Child was born in 1967 and grew up in Wiltshire with three sisters. She has always been interested in the many aspects of childhood, from gazing into toy shop windows to watching American children's shows from the 1960s. She attending two Art Schools - Manchester Polytechnic and City and Guilds Art School, London, where Lauren admits that she did not learn much.

Before Lauren starting writing and illustrating children's books she started her own company 'Chandeliers for the People' making exotic, elegant lampshades. It was only when she came to write and illustrate the book Clarice Bean, That's Me that she decided to devote her time to writing and illustrating books for children, which combines her fascination for childhood and her talent for designing and creating. Lauren gets her inspiration from other people's conversations or from seeing something funny happen.