Petr Horacek - Children's Author

Petr Horacek trained at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague before becoming a graphic designer, illustrator and painter. He won the Books for Children Newcomer Award with Strawberries Are Red and What Is Black and White? He is also the creator of the loveable Suzy Goose character who has featured in Silly Suzy Goose, Look Out, Suzy Goose and Suzy Goose and the Christmas Star. Born in Czechoslovakia, Petr now lives in Worcestershire with his wife and two daughters. Click here to read an interview with Petr.

As a child

"I grew up in Prague in the Czech Republic. Just outside our flat there was a wood where I spent lots of time playing with friends. We would climb on piles of soil or build bunkers from forgotten builder’s materials. I always wanted to be an illustrator, but I preferred to look at the pictures inside the books rather than to read them. I would listen to the story or watch a film and then fill up my sketchbook with pictures and images from the story. I started to read books quite late, but I haven’t stopped since."

As an adult

"I studied at the Academy of Fine Art in Prague where I painted and drew for six years. Some of my pictures were as big as a double bed! Every autumn the teachers drove us to the countryside where they left us for a few weeks (once even a few months!) to paint and draw the landscape. Since then I have adored the autumn. One day an English girl called Claire came into my studio and before I knew it, I was living in England. We are married now and I love England, but it took me some time to learn English – in fact, I’m still learning."

As an artist

"My two daughters Tereza and Cecilia are the biggest inspiration for my work. I started to work on children’s books when Tereza was born. For my first books, Strawberries are Red and What is Black and White?, I received the Books for Children Newcomer Award 2001. It was presented to me in a restaurant and we had a nice lunch. I still remember the lunch and I still have the trophy. I like doing novelty books best. I think it’s very exciting looking through the holes in the pages and seeing what will happen if I turn one more page!

Things you didn't know about Petr Horacek

I love children's drawings.
    I love looking at the sky.
    I love walking in woods and picking mushrooms.
    I love snow and I know how to ski.
    I love cakes (any cakes!) and vanilla ice cream (or any other ice cream!).
    I love playing tennis and I play as much as I can.
    I love watching people walking their dogs.
    I love music – from the very old to the very loud and rattley.
    I love listening to the radio. I record programmes I can't listen to, then pile the recorded tapes on top of my hi-fi.
    I can't spell. (It's rather embarrassing.)  

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Featured Books, with extracts by Petr Horacek

Time for Bed
Petr Horacek
Bedtime is made fun in this chunky board book. Lift the flaps to uncover all the different things that have to be done before bedtime! There’s tidying up the toys, eating supper, having a bath and more – all...
Featured in: Baby and Toddler
Format: Board book - Released: 06/06/2013
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Butterfly, Butterfly
Petr Horacek
Finding a beautiful butterfly in her garden leads Lucy onto a thrilling exploration of all the wonderful creatures in her garden and the many colours they come in. There’s a pink worm, a busy brown spider, a snail with an...
Featured in: Baby and Toddler
Format: Paperback - Released: 02/08/2012
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Puffin Peter
Petr Horacek
Shortlisted for the 2012 Kate Greenaway Medal.  The Judges said: A dramatically beautiful picture book full of movement. Layers of colour and texture capture the movement of water, and of light, and of Peter and Paul themselves. A thrilling visual adventure...
Featured in: 3+ readers
Format: Paperback - Released: 01/03/2012
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Puffin Peter
Petr Horacek
A Lovereading4kids 'Great Read' you may have missed 2011 selection. Simplicity is the key to this delightful picture book capturing the sense of loss when two playful puffins get separated by a stormy sea. Peter and Paul are the best of...
Featured in: 3+ readers
Format: Hardback - Released: 07/07/2011
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Animal Counting
Petr Horacek
This title includes simple pop-up counting from one spotty giraffe to ten swimming fish. Turn the pages, lift the flaps and see animals of all shapes and sizes bring the numbers one to ten to life. This bright, simple first...
Featured in: Baby and Toddler
Format: Hardback - Released: 06/09/2012
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