Alexander McCall Smith is Professor of Medical Law at the University of Edinburgh. He is also the author of over fifty books, including the international bestselling series The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. Sandy is the winner of three Author of the Year awards in 2004 (British Book Awards, Booksellers' Association and Waterstone's). Bloomsbury have re-issued fourteen of his backlist titles for the 7-9 age-range with a cohesive series look. The Akimbo books are beautifully illustrated by Peter Bailey, who has worked with many fine authors over the years, including Philip Pullman, Michael Morpurgo and Jamila Gavin.