John Agard is an Afro-Guyanese playwright, poet and children's writer who has written prolifically for both children and adults, now living in Britain. In 2012, he was selected for the Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry.

Agard was born on 21 June 1949 in British Guiana. Agard grew up in 1950s Georgetown, Guyana. In 1977 he moved to the UK, and he has lived in Lewes, East Sussex, since 1978. He is a poet, performer and anthologist and has published many books of poetry both for adults and children.