Caroline Castle and Claire Robertson are pen names of Caroline Roberts, long-time publisher of Hutchinson Children’s Books at Random House. While at Random Caroline was responsible for launching some of the country’s most acclaimed authors and illustrators as well as several best-selling brands. Caroline left Random House in autumn 05 and is now pursuing a full-time career as a writer, illustrator and animation producer.

Her latest fiction title Tales of Beauty and Cruelty (Orion) co-written with Kate Petty was published to enthusiastic reviews in autumn 05. Brown Bear’s Wonderful Secret, illustrated by Tina McNaughton, was published by Gullane in September 06, and two young readers Snip, Snap Croc and The Big Fuzzy by Quarto in August 07, with Teatime in Space coming in August 08. Also in 08 are two retellings for  OUP’s Treetops series: White Fang (with Alison Sage) and The Canterville Ghost.

Ån outstanding pre-school animation The Baba House written by Caroline with visuals by Sam Childs was launched at MIPCOM 07. Produced by Caroline’s company CleverCat Productions The Baba House features stunning 3D CGI animation by British Animation Award winners Blue Zoo.  

Caroline is also reviving her long-neglected illustration career which  began and ended with Elizabeth Jane Gets Dressed and Mary Ann Can, both published by Piccadilly Press in the late 1980s.  Samples of her new work can  be viewed on this site.