Can a chimp chat, or a tortoise feel teary? Do animals help each other and do they feel love? When school teacher, Mr Biggity takes his class to the wildlife park he sets out to prove that humans are better than any other animal. Young Clara isn't so sure . . . and the more she looks, the more she sees that animals are amazing . . . and that Mr Biggity knows almost nothing at all! Written by Jess Merserve What Clara Saw is a beautiful, richly illustrated book about the natural world, which reminds us never to underestimate the animal kingdom. Inspired by the touching and true story of Owen the orphaned hippo and his friend Mzee, the 130-year-old giant tortoise.

Jessica Meserve was born in the US and grew up there and in the UK. She graduated with both a BA and an MA in Illustration from Edinburgh College of Art, and worked in publishing as a children's book designer before going freelance to pursue a career as an illustrator. Upon returning from a stint living in Vancouver, Jess completed the prestigious MA in Children's Book Illustration at Anglia Ruskin, Cambridge, where she rediscovered her passion for observational drawing, painting, watercolour and pen and ink work. Jessica loves the challenge of drawing children and is always inspired by the personalities - and constant movement - of her two daughters. What Clara Saw is her debut title with Macmillan and involved many hours drawing at Whispsnade zoo, which is thankfully not far from Hertfordshire where Jessica lives with her husband, two daughters and a dog.