Patrick Skene Catling (born 14 February 1925)[1] is a British journalist, author and book reviewer, best known for writing The Chocolate Touch in 1952.

[2] He has written 12 novels, 3 works of nonfiction and 9 books for children.

Catling was born and schooled in London and was educated there and at Oberlin College in the United States.

Catling served in the Royal Canadian Air Force as a navigator and as a journalist at The Baltimore Sun[3] and The Manchester Guardian.

[4][5] His first publication of The Chocolate Touch in 1952 received enthusiastic responses from several reviewers.