Elizabeth Laird is a British author of children's and young adult fiction. She has written over 40 books, including the award-winning Kiss the Dust, which won the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize Gold Award in 1991. Her other works include The Garbage King, The Prince Who Walked with Lions, and The Fastest Boy in the World. Laird has also written several non-fiction books, including The Story of Scotland and The Story of the Caribbean. She has been praised for her ability to bring history to life in her stories, and for her vivid and engaging writing style. Laird is a passionate advocate for children's rights, and her books often explore themes of social justice and human rights.