The illustrator of popular children's book The Gruffalo says the best-seller exists because of the UK's membership of the European Union.
German-born Axel Scheffler came to Britain to study illustration at the Bath Academy of Arts in 1982.
He went on to collaborate with Julia Donaldson on several books including The Gruffalo, which has sold 13 million copies worldwide.
Scheffler wrote in a blog: "Without British membership in the EU, millions of British children would have grown up without The Gruffalo, Room on the Broom's witch, and Stickman - at least in their existing form.
"The Gruffalo and all the other books I've illustrated would not have contributed to the British economy, creating jobs and revenue.
"Just unravelling the story of one 'British product', The Gruffalo, shows that Britain's engagement with Europe is not simply a political issue, but an economic and cultural one.
"And if anyone had asked me when I arrived in the UK in 1982 that, 34 years later, the UK would be debating whether to stay in the EU, I would have thought they were being ridiculous.
"And, frankly, I can't quite believe that this referendum is happening."
Prime Minister David Cameron has set 23 June as the date the UK will decide whether to remain in the EU.
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