Helen Cooper is an author and illustrator whose work includes classic books such as THE BEAR UNDER THE STAIRS, the PUMPKIN SOUP trilogy, THE BABY WHO WOULDN’T GO TO BED and TATTY RATTY (Penguin). Her books have been translated into 30 languages and won many awards including twice winning the Library Association Kate Greenaway Medal.

More recently she has also collaborated as a writer with other illustrators. SAVING THE BUTTERFLY (Walker) written by Helen and illustrated by Gill Smith was shortlisted for the Diverse Book Award, The English Association, The Klaus Flugge Award and was also long listed for the Carnegie medal and appeared on the Empathy 2023 list.

She has also written and illustrated children’s MG fiction. The latest, THE TAMING OF THE CAT, was published by Faber in 2023 and was named The New Statesman Children’s Book of the Year.

Helen grew up in Cumbria and now lives in Oxford.