Lydia Monks is a bestselling illustrator and author of children’s books, based in Sheffield, who has collaborated with many authors on both picture book and fiction titles.

Lydia is probably most well known for her collaborations with author Julia Donaldson, including Sharing a Shell, The Singing Mermaid and the What the Ladybird Heard series which has sold over 4 million copies and been translated into 25 languages worldwide.

A stage adaption of What the Ladybird Heard, was nominated for an Olivier Award for Best Family Show in 2022. The performance was Live on Stage at the Palace Theatre in summer 2021.

Lydia’s authored and illustrated Twit Twoo School series – latest title Rabbit Races Ahead – is published by Macmillan Children’s Books. Lydia’s other quirky and colourful picture books include Aaaarrgghh, Spider! and I Wish I Were a Dog, both published by Egmont.

Lydia’s long list of awards includes the Smarties Award, the Royal Mail Scottish Children’s Book Award, the Stockport Children’s Book Award, the Specsaver, Nielsen Gold Bestseller Award, the Red Big Book Award and the Pan Mac Award.

Recently, Lydia has collaborated with Professor James G Logan from The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine to create the free, downloadable Dr. Dog series, to educate and reassure young children about Coronavirus.

Published in August 2022, Adoette (Anderson Press) is written and illustrated by Lydia and beautifully tells the tale of the life of one tree, from a young sapling to a mighty oak.

Recently, Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks have teamed up for their 12th picture book, the fifth in the What the Ladybird Heard series, which is the first to feature a festive theme. What the Ladybird Heard at Christmas was published in October 2022.

Also on the festive theme and published in 2022, We Wish You a Merry Christmas (Pan Macmillan) written by Floella Benjamin and illustrated by Lydia, is a beautiful rhyming story full of Christmas spirt.