Authors in the Spotlight

Authors stop by to share their thoughts and free classroom posters convey these.

Ross Montgomery

Ross Montgomery is the author of the picture book Space Tortoise, His debut novel, Alex, the Dog and the Unopenable Door was selected as one of The Sunday Times' “Top 100 Modern Children’s Classics”.

Vivian French

Vivian French is a much-loved author who has written more than 300 books for children. In 2016, she received an MBE for services to literature, literacy, illustration and the arts.

Marcus Sedgwick has written over 50 books, including books for adults, young adults, and younger children, and of all types, from picture books to non-fiction, comics to graphic novels. He has won many awards for his work over the last quarter of a century.

Petr Horácek

Petr Horácek graduated as a Master of Fine Art in 1994. Petr has written and illustrated many books for children and won awards for his books in Britain, USA and Holland. His new book, The Perfect Present was published on 25th August 2022.

Nicola Skinner

Nicola Skinner worked as a copywriter and journalist for the likes of the Guardian and the Pool before being inspired to write for young readers.

Jackie Morris

Jackie Morris is the bestselling author and illustrator, photographer and painter who created the international bestseller, The Lost Words, winner of the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal in 2019, with Robert Macfarlane.

Lissa Evans

Following a medical degree, Lissa Evans changed careers to become a comedy producer for radio and TV. Her children’s novels have been shortlisted for the Costa Children’s Book Award, Carnegie Medal, and Branford Boase Award.

Chrissie Sains

Chrissie Sains is the author of The Alien in the Jam Factory and The Treasure Under the Jam Factory. Chrissie has a background in marketing and events but now writes full time and is a graduate of the Golden Egg Academy and a member of SCBWI.

Neill Cameron

Neill Cameron is an award-winning author and cartoonist. He is the creator of several comic books, including the Mega Robo Bros series and How to Make Awesome Comics.

Helen Cooper

Helen Cooper is an author and illustrator whose books have won lots of awards including the Kate Greenaway Medal - twice. She also writes and illustrates Chapter Books and sometimes writes Picture Books in collaboration with other illustrators.

Larraine Harrison

Larraine Harrison writes books for both teachers and children. She likes to involve children in the writing process by asking them to review her drafts and has managed to persuade her grandchildren to be the models on her book covers.

Shereen Malherbe

Shereen Malherbe is a British Palestinian author of novels and children's books. After travelling throughout the Middle East, Shereen now resides in the UK with her husband and four children.

Ross Montgomery

Vivian French

Marcus Sedgwick

Petr Horácek

Nicola Skinner

Jackie Morris

Lissa Evans

Chrissie Sains

Neill Cameron

Helen Cooper

Larraine Harrison

Shereen Malherbe

Children's Choices

Each month we’re asking children in classrooms up and down the UK to decide what their recommended book is, and to give us some interesting titbits to get us started.

A Story Like the Wind

A group of people are fleeing their country… on a small boat, with a small hope, in a rising wind, on a rising sea. This small hope comes from stories shared between them – stories that unite them

Joan Procter, Dragon Doctor

As a child, Joan Procter was given a crocodile as a birthday present! This is the true story of how she grew up to become an important reptile expert, even though most scientists at that time were men. The book explains how she designed the Reptile House at London Zoo and became well known for her brave work with Komodo dragons.