Joanna Harrison studied at St. Martin's School of Art and Goldsmith's College and went on to work at TVC Animation as an animator and storyboard artist. She worked on a variety of films and commercials and was part of the animation team behind Raymond Brigg's The Snowman, The Bear and When the Wind Blows. After the birth of her first child, Joanna began writing and illustrating children's books and her published work includes Dear Bear and When Mum Turned into a Monster. Joanna also teaches animation at a school in Abingdon. Grizzly Dad is her fist picture book for David Fickling Books.