Francesca Simon is an English children's author best known for her Horrid Henry series. She was born in London in 1955 and studied at Oxford University. She has written over 50 books, including the popular Horrid Henry series, which has been adapted into a television series and a feature film. She has also written several picture books, including The Great Big Book of Horrid Henry and The Horrid Henry Treasury. Her books have been translated into over 30 languages and have sold millions of copies worldwide. She has won numerous awards, including the Children's Book Award, the Red House Children's Book Award, and the Blue Peter Book Award. She is a passionate advocate for children's literacy and has been a judge for the Roald Dahl Funny Prize. She currently lives in London with her husband and two children.