Jo Lodge was greatly influenced by her mother, Maureen Roffey who is an illustrator. When she was growing up, her mum always encouraged her to draw and make things such as pop-up cards. Jo's father, Bernard Lodge, is also an illustrator and printmaker. He worked as a graphic designer when Jo was young. Such talented parents might explain why both Jo and her sister became illustrators. Jo graduated in fashion design from Kingston, and worked for a knitwear company designing their main collection and consulting on projects for Next, Marks and Spencer and Saks Fifth Avenue. Even when in the fashion industry, Jo enjoyed making birthday cards for friends. It was her mum who suggested she had a go at a book and to take the idea to Rod Campbell who published her first six books. Jo was nominated for the Sainsbury's Baby Book Award in October 2001 for Baby's very first book. Since 1992, she has been freelance. Mr Croc was first published in 1994 to instant international success!