About the Author
Libby Walden is an editor at Caterpillar Books and a book review blogger at Through the Wardrobe. Libby’s days are filled with writing, reading and dreaming up new books. Read more about the author here.
Featured books by Libby Walden
Across the Savannah
3+ readersCross the hot savannah and discover all of its secrets with this new pop-up book.
On the Mountain
3+ readers 5+ readersJourney through the mountain and uncover its mysteries with this new pop-up book.
As We Grow The journey of life...
3+ readers 5+ readersSeptember 2018 Book of the Month | September 2018 Book of the Month | From the clever cut-outs on the cover which reveal three figures at different times of life, this will catch the eye and hold the attention of young children. A gentle rhyming text describes the five stages of man, from tiny baby to the quiet days of the elderly, reminding us that every bit of growing up – that ‘journey to be “me”’ – has its own joys and challenges. The illustrations are beautiful – calm and simple with muted colours, but full nonetheless of detail and a sense of the uninterrupted passing of time. Lovely to look at, and lovely to read too, this is a book children can return to over and over to check their own journey to adulthood.
Feelings Inside my heart and in my head...
3+ readers 5+ readersJuly 2018 Book of the Month | Cleverly designed and sensitively illustrated, this is a wonderful book to explore the world of feelings. Each double page takes a different emotion, from sadness to jealousy, loneliness to excitement, and examines it through simple lines of verse and Richard Jones’s warm, empathetic drawings. On each page is the same small child, spied through a die cut hole, and therefore placed at the heart of each emotion. We all feel these things, is the message; feelings are strong and real, but they come and go. Despite the tumult of different emotions, the overall sensation on reading this is one of calm and serenity, and it’s a book to make children feel more secure in their world.
Secrets of the Mountain
3+ readers 5+ readersChildren who like their stories filled with larger-than-life characters, crazy comedy and the reassuring sense that love and goodness will win out, will really enjoy A.L Kennedy’s Uncle Shawn books. In the first book in this series, little Badger Bill needed rescuing from a particularly nasty couple; now the tables are turned and everyone’s best friend Uncle Shawn has been locked up by the awful ‘Dr’ P’Klawz, whose ambition is to rid the country of all types of fun and – above all – Unusualness. The action is fast and very funny, and leaves readers in no doubt that unusualness in every form is to be encouraged. Filled with some wonderful images (P’Klawz grins ‘like a cruel iceberg’) it’s made for reading aloud, and Gemma Correll’s black and white illustrations are an added treat.
Bird House
3+ readers 5+ readersA Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month March 2018 This chunky book imitates a bird house in shape and makes a great format for an attractive lift- the- flap information book about the different habitats of birds. These include duck houses which float on lakes and ponds for ducks, dovecotes set up high on walls to keep the pigeons and doves who use them safe from predators, and owl boxes so owls can sleep safely. There is also information about feeding birds and providing them with water. ~ Julia Eccleshare Julia Eccleshare's Picks of the Month for March 2018 The Lotterys Plus One by Emma Donoghue King Coo by Adam Stower Splish, Splash, Ducky! by Lucy Cousins We Are Not Frogs! (Little Gems) by Michael Morpurgo The Sorry Tale of Fox and Bear by Margrete Lamond Song of the Dolphin Boy by Elizabeth Laird What Do People Do All Day? (50th anniversary edition) by Richard Scarry Bird House by Libby Walden Bug Hotel by Libby Walden Alone Together by Clayton Junior The Lost Penguin by Claire Freedman
Bug Hotel
3+ readers 5+ readersA Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month March 2018 Take a new look at some of the most common insects and mini-beasts around us in this fun to use information book about the habitats of beetles, bees, spiders, butterflies and more. Lift the flaps to find the out more about these insects’ homes and how they live. ~ Julia Eccleshare Julia Eccleshare's Picks of the Month for March 2018 The Lotterys Plus One by Emma Donoghue King Coo by Adam Stower Splish, Splash, Ducky! by Lucy Cousins We Are Not Frogs! (Little Gems) by Michael Morpurgo The Sorry Tale of Fox and Bear by Margrete Lamond Song of the Dolphin Boy by Elizabeth Laird What Do People Do All Day? (50th anniversary edition) by Richard Scarry Bird House by Libby Walden Bug Hotel by Libby Walden Alone Together by Clayton Junior The Lost Penguin by Claire Freedman
Hidden World Forest
3+ readers 5+ readersWith large flaps on every page, short accompanying explanatory sentences and attractive illustrations, this is a great book to introduce children to nature and the natural world. Focussing on the forest and its animal and plant life, the book is divided into six sections: plants, animals, pondlife, insects, habitats and baby animals. Lifting the flap entitled ‘den’ takes us underground, a line of text explaining that ‘a fox’s home is also called an earth and they live above and below ground’; a series of pictures under the flap called ‘frogspawn’ shows each stage of a tadpole’s transformation into a frog. Indeed, each page is full of interesting information and provides a starting point too for further conversations about nature. ~ Andrea Reece
In Focus Cities
5+ readers 7+ readersTen different illustrators explore the culture and customs of some of the world’s greatest cities in this stylish information book. Each city is portrayed across double pages, which in turn open out, enabling the reader to discover a wealth of detail about the different cities. As well as facts and figures, often awe-inspiring, there’s quirkier information, all illustrated: for example there’s a panel on Tokyo’s vending machines, some of which dispense very unusual things, as well as on the Sens?-ji Temple; the pages on Rome tell us about the city’s artichoke festival as well as about the Vatican and the Colosseum. Each illustrator has a distinctive style well-suited to the city they portray and the book gives a real sense of the bustling character of each featured city. ~ Andrea Reece
In Focus 101 Close Ups, Cross-Sections and Cutaways
5+ readers 7+ readersThe renaissance in non-fiction and information books continues apace as publishers create beautiful books that inform and inspire readers. This is just such a book: ten accomplished artists each explore a chosen topic over a double page spread – though as each page also features a giant flap, they actually have space to work across six pages. Beneath the flaps readers can see what is happening within, so Thomas Pullin takes us inside some of the world’s different houses, from Musgum mud hut, to cave house and Japanese dentoutekina; Barbara Bakos takes readers inside the space shuttle; and Chester Bentley dissects a volcano. There’s a huge amount of information beautifully presented. This is a book for young readers to pore over, and one that really does provide a fresh perspective on our world. ~ Andrea Reece
Other books by Libby Walden
As We Grow The journey of life...
3+ readers 5+ readersSeptember 2018 Book of the Month | September 2018 Book of the Month | From the clever cut-outs on the cover which reveal three figures at different times of life, this will catch the eye and hold the attention of young children. A gentle rhyming text describes the five stages of man, from tiny baby to the quiet days of the elderly, reminding us that every bit of growing up – that ‘journey to be “me”’ – has its own joys and challenges. The illustrations are beautiful – calm and simple with muted colours, but full nonetheless of detail and a sense of the uninterrupted passing of time. Lovely to look at, and lovely to read too, this is a book children can return to over and over to check their own journey to adulthood.
Foods of the World
Delve into kitchens around the globe and sample a vast array of culinary delights with this beautifully illustrated book. Uncover tasty treats, unique utensils and fascinating food facts as you experience the diverse foods of the world.
Secrets of the Mountain
3+ readers 5+ readersChildren who like their stories filled with larger-than-life characters, crazy comedy and the reassuring sense that love and goodness will win out, will really enjoy A.L Kennedy’s Uncle Shawn books. In the first book in this series, little Badger Bill needed rescuing from a particularly nasty couple; now the tables are turned and everyone’s best friend Uncle Shawn has been locked up by the awful ‘Dr’ P’Klawz, whose ambition is to rid the country of all types of fun and – above all – Unusualness. The action is fast and very funny, and leaves readers in no doubt that unusualness in every form is to be encouraged. Filled with some wonderful images (P’Klawz grins ‘like a cruel iceberg’) it’s made for reading aloud, and Gemma Correll’s black and white illustrations are an added treat.
Lots to Spot: Farm
Can you find the sleepy calf, the jumping horse and the loud cockerel in these colourful farmyard scenes? With chunky fold-out pages, there's lots to spot in this exciting new search-and-find book!
In Focus Cities
5+ readers 7+ readersTen different illustrators explore the culture and customs of some of the world’s greatest cities in this stylish information book. Each city is portrayed across double pages, which in turn open out, enabling the reader to discover a wealth of detail about the different cities. As well as facts and figures, often awe-inspiring, there’s quirkier information, all illustrated: for example there’s a panel on Tokyo’s vending machines, some of which dispense very unusual things, as well as on the Sens?-ji Temple; the pages on Rome tell us about the city’s artichoke festival as well as about the Vatican and the Colosseum. Each illustrator has a distinctive style well-suited to the city they portray and the book gives a real sense of the bustling character of each featured city. ~ Andrea Reece
Things That Grow
The world around us is always growing and changing - no two days are ever the same! Use this beautifully illustrated book to slow the passage of time and discover how a seed transforms into a mighty tree, understand how mountains and islands are created and learn what a puggle becomes when it grows up.
Feelings Inside my heart and in my head...
What you feel is who you are... Explore a world of emotions with this stunning peep-through picture book. Richard Jones' enchanting illustrations and the lyrical text make each and every feeling come to life to help children understand the emotions they experience.
In Focus 101 Close Ups, Cross-Sections and Cutaways
5+ readers 7+ readersThe renaissance in non-fiction and information books continues apace as publishers create beautiful books that inform and inspire readers. This is just such a book: ten accomplished artists each explore a chosen topic over a double page spread – though as each page also features a giant flap, they actually have space to work across six pages. Beneath the flaps readers can see what is happening within, so Thomas Pullin takes us inside some of the world’s different houses, from Musgum mud hut, to cave house and Japanese dentoutekina; Barbara Bakos takes readers inside the space shuttle; and Chester Bentley dissects a volcano. There’s a huge amount of information beautifully presented. This is a book for young readers to pore over, and one that really does provide a fresh perspective on our world. ~ Andrea Reece
Author Info
Facebook Updates
If this is your author page then you can share your Facebook updates with your readers right here on LoveReading
Find out more
