Ian Whybrow

Before he took up writing full time, Ian Whybrow spent most of his working life as Head of English in a secondary school. He received rave reviews for the first of THE SNIFF STORIES in 1989. Since then, Sniff has appeared in four books and an equal number of BBC radio broadcasts. In March 1999 they were re-published as lead titles by Hodder, in a lively new paperback format with illustrations by Tony Ross. One of a very small number of children’s writers to have topped the best-seller lists, Ian has written over 60 children’s books and is published in 21 languages in 24 countries. His work includes pop-ups books and picture books like QUACKY QUACK QUACK (Walker) – now in 7th edition; LITTLE FARMER JOE (Kingfisher); the HARRY AND BUCKETFUL OF DINOSAURS series (Gullane and Puffin)); and THE BEDTIME BEAR (Macmillan). Popular stories for younger readers include HOLLY AND THE SKYBOARD (Walker); A FOOTBALLER CALLED FLIP (one of a series of six Books for Boys -Hodder); rather older fiction like the best-selling LITTLE WOLF series (Harper-Collins) THE TIME SAILORS (Walker) and THE UNVISIBLES (Macmillan). He has also been widely published as a poet.

Best known for his whacky and original humour, he is a fine observer of children’s language and behaviour and always writes with adult readers as well as youngsters in mind. He has a brilliant ear for voices and takes pride in the fact that his work reads aloud very well. “I loved being read to as a child,” he says. “And I loved the sense that my mother and father were enjoying themselves too. For me, that’s the acid test for any good book -that there’s something in it for everyone to enjoy.’ LITTLE WOLF’S BOOK OF BADNESS is scheduled to be an animated series after a hit Christmas Special with Channel 4 (2002); HARRY AND THE BUCKETFUL OF DINOSAURS is also under contract for an animated TV series.

Apart from his wife and daughters, his passions in no particular order are: Herefordshire, where he retreats to write in an idyllic Victorian villa; digging; walking with friends; swimming; cycling (especially in France); the poet Stevie Smith; the theatre; books, films and hedgehogs.