Gabby Dawnay – författare

Learn how no one is too small to make a difference on a young girl's magic quest through the fairy door, where she discovers that change starts with a tiny seed.

See the sights of London in this fun-filled sticker book. The very best of London's palaces, parks, art galleries, shops, ancient towers, iconic buildings, and historic streets all await for you to explore, with more than 100 stickers. Among the monuments and mayhem you'll meet some of London's quirky inhabitants, including resident pigeons, and get to explore the sights by boat, bus, bike, and the famous Tube.

As read by Eddie Redmayne for CBeebies Christmas Day Bedtime StoryWINNER of the 'Best Preschool Book' - Made For Mums Awards 2018A little girl dreams of having her very own pet. But what kind of animal would make the best companion? A mouse is too small; a cat is too ordinary; and a fish is too… wet! As she plays with her toy dinosaur, inspiration strikes. What about a real, live dinosaur? She could ride it to school. It would need lots of food to eat, a swimming pool to drink from, and a dino flap so it could come and go. At the end of a day spent busily imagining, the girl trudges up to bed with her little plastic dinosaur. As she falls asleep, the dinosaur from her daydreams stands in the garden with its head poking through the bedroom window, making her dreams come true.

As read by Eddie Redmayne for CBeebies Christmas Day Bedtime StoryWINNER of the 'Best Preschool Book' - Made For Mums Awards 2018A little girl dreams of having her very own pet. But what kind of animal would make the best companion? A mouse is too small; a cat is too ordinary; and a fish is too… wet! As she plays with her toy dinosaur, inspiration strikes. What about a real, live dinosaur? She could ride it to school. It would need lots of food to eat, a swimming pool to drink from, and a dino flap so it could come and go. At the end of a day spent busily imagining, the girl trudges up to bed with her little plastic dinosaur. As she falls asleep, the dinosaur from her daydreams stands in the garden with its head poking through the bedroom window, making her dreams come true.

As read on Cbeebies bedtime storiesIn this charming trip of the imagination, a little girl delights in experiencing life at a slower pace as she shares her day with a sleepy sloth who moves so slowly, moss grows in his fur! This sloth may be sleepy but it’s a champion on the jungle gym, thanks to its super gripping skills. And climbing trees has never been so easy! But the little girl’s hairdresser is less than impressed to find not just moss but also moths in its fur – and by the time our sleepy sloth has finished its morning walk, the day is almost done. Through rollicking rhymes and bold, graphic illustrations, If I had a sleepy sloth imagines the positives and negatives of having a sloth for a pet and provides a welcome alternative to the fast pace of modern life by creating the time for readers to simplyb-r-e-a-t-h-e.

I really want a clever pet, a pet with many charms.The sort of pet with talents, and a large amount of armsHave you ever thought about what the best aquatic pet would be? It's an octopus, of course! Playing different ball games simultaneously and staying camouflaged when it’s bedtime is eight times the fun – just watch out for the ink... With vibrant illustrations and playful rhymes, If I Had an Octopus is a charming and imaginative tale about bedtime story that follows a little girl's flight of fancy as she imagines the advantages and disadvantages of having an octopus for a pet.

GOLD award winner, MadeForMums Awards 2021 Have you ever imagined what it would be like to have a unicorn for a pet? Besides being much less angry than a troll and far more conveniently sized than a giant, unicorns only ever eat ice-cream for breakfast AND... every time you get upset they feed you candyfloss! In this humorous, energetically rhyming tale, a little girl experiences exactly what life would be like with a magical creature for a pet – from sprinkling stardust on grumpy parents to sliding into football practice on a rainbow. This book, the latest in the bestselling 'If I Had…' series, celebrates the magic of unicorns in a way that will appeal to children who are allergic to pink.

GOLD award winner, MadeForMums Awards 2021 Have you ever imagined what it would be like to have a unicorn for a pet? Besides being much less angry than a troll and far more conveniently sized than a giant, unicorns only ever eat ice-cream for breakfast AND... every time you get upset they feed you candyfloss! In this humorous, energetically rhyming tale, a little girl experiences exactly what life would be like with a magical creature for a pet – from sprinkling stardust on grumpy parents to sliding into football practice on a rainbow. This book, the latest in the bestselling 'If I Had…' series, celebrates the magic of unicorns in a way that will appeal to children who are allergic to pink.

Now available as a board book: the award-winning illustrated bedtime story about a little girl who imagines what it would be like to have a dinosaur of her very own. As read by Eddie Redmayne for CBeebies Christmas Day Bedtime StoryWINNER of the 'Best Preschool Book' - Made For Mums Awards 2018A little girl dreams of having her very own pet. But what kind of animal would make the best companion? A mouse is too small; a cat is too ordinary; and a fish is too… wet! As she plays with her toy dinosaur, inspiration strikes. What about a real, live dinosaur? She could ride it to school. It would need lots of food to eat, a swimming pool to drink from, and a dino flap so it could come and go. At the end of a day spent busily imagining, the girl trudges up to bed with her little plastic dinosaur. As she falls asleep, the dinosaur from her daydreams stands in the garden with its head poking through the bedroom window, making her dreams come true.

As read by David Schwimmer on CBeebies Bedtime Story, now available as a board book. In this charming trip of the imagination, a little girl delights in experiencing life at a slower pace as she shares her day with a sleepy sloth who moves so slowly, moss grows in his fur! This sloth may be sleepy but it’s a champion on the jungle gym, thanks to its super gripping skills. And climbing trees has never been so easy! But the little girl’s hairdresser is less than impressed to find not just moss but also moths in its fur – and by the time our sleepy sloth has finished its morning walk, the day is almost done. Through rollicking rhymes and bold, graphic illustrations, If I had a sleepy sloth imagines the positives and negatives of having a sloth for a pet and provides a welcome alternative to the fast pace of modern life by creating the time for readers to simply b-r-e-a-t-h-e.

A laugh-out-loud bedtime story in which a little girl imagines what it would be like to have a vampire bat for a pet. I really want a spooky petthat flaps around and hangs.A toothy type of swoopy petwith shiny pointed fangs...Imagine if I had a... vampire bat! This charming addition to the popular If I had a... series is timed perfectly for Halloween, and features a sharp-toothed but adorable vampire bat as its main star. Taking inspiration from the Addams Family, it imagines what it would be like to live a nocturnal lifestyle and the funny scenarios one might encounter trick-or-treating or at the funfair with a vampire bat as your pal. Facts about vampire bats combine with seasonal spookiness and positive messages about dental hygiene in this brilliant book for bedtime.

A charming and imaginative story in the bestselling 'If I had a...' series, which imagines life with a crocodile as a pet. There’s more to a crocodile than its scaly skin and scary teeth – they stay cool under pressure (in part because they can’t sweat) and on a rainy day, they love nothing more than a fast game of Snap! This latest addition to the 'If I Had a...' series is packed with humour and rollicking rhymes that young children readily catch on to. Its bold, graphic illustrations are stylish and packed with quirky details for children to spot. The book winds down to a satisfying end where the little girl drifts off to sleep, making it perfect for bedtime routines.

The latest addition to the wildly popular series of bedtime stories imagines what it would be like to have a polar bear for a pet. What would it be like to have a polar bear as a pet? It might be an unconventional choice, but it would be sure to give the best bear hugs... Polar bears are cuddly but they're also very strong. As marine mammals, they can swim for days at a time – that's serious perseverance! So if Santa ever needed help delivering his presents, guess who he would call? Join our funny female protagonist as she wonders 'what would life be like... if I had a polar bear?'

A boardbook edition of this magical book in the award-winning If I had a... series. Have you ever imagined what it would be like to have a unicorn for a pet? Besides being much less angry than a troll and far more conveniently sized than a giant, unicorns only ever eat ice-cream for breakfast AND... every time you get upset they feed you candyfloss! In this humorous, energetically rhyming tale, a little girl experiences exactly what life would be like with a magical creature for a pet – from sprinkling stardust on grumpy parents to sliding into football practice on a rainbow. This book celebrates the magic of unicorns in a way that will appeal to children who are allergic to pink.

A board book edition of this charming and imaginative story in the bestselling 'If I had a...' series, which imagines life with an octopus as a pet. I really want a clever pet, a pet with many charms.The sort of pet with talents, and a large amount of arms Have you ever thought about what the best aquatic pet would be? It's an octopus, of course! Playing different ball games simultaneously and staying camouflaged when it’s bedtime is eight times the fun – just watch out for the ink... With vibrant illustrations and playful rhymes, If I Had an Octopus is a delightful bedtime story that follows a little girl's flight of fancy as she imagines the advantages and disadvantages of having an octopus for a pet.

The newest board book instalment of the bestselling If I had a... series imagines what life would be like with a super-bouncy kangaroo for a pet.Australia is full of wonderful wildlife, but what animal would make the best pet? Snakes can be scary, and a koala might give good hugs, but would be too clingy... But what about the bounciest, springiest animal of them all? Join our funny female protagonist and imagine... if I had a kangaroo! With rollicking rhymes and bold illustrations, our creative protagonist imagines the hopping highs and lows of having a kangaroo for a pet.Being an ace on the cricket pitch is a breeze, but hold on to your stomach during the school run - it's pretty bumpy being bounced around in a pouch! The book winds down to little girl drifting off to sleep, perfect for bedtime reading.

The first book in the charming new series 'Wild by Nature', inspired by the Forest School movement and designed to teach young children how to engage with nature from season to season. A Field Guide to Spring is a pocket-sized introduction to spring, inspired by the Forest School movement. Building on children’s natural curiosity about the world around them, this book aims to establish a connection with nature at an early age that will go on to last a lifetime! Hunt for seedlings, squelch about in the mud, identify birds’ eggs and build your own nest. Discover how tadpoles transform into frogs and why rainbows appear in the sky. This book features lyrical poems, hands-on crafts and activities, scientific facts, and identifier pages to help children spot different animals and plants. Whether a child’s access to nature is in the form of an urban park, a private garden, a field, or a forest, there is so much to discover and experience.

The latest instalment in this charming series inspired by the Forest School movement, teaching young children how to engage with nature from season to season. Inspired by the Forest School movement, the ‘Field Guide to...’ series encourages children to learn in, with and about nature, and to discover the beauty and wonder of each season. Designed as guides to take out into the wild, books in the series prompt readers to explore the natural environment using their senses, curiosity and creativity, while also introducing them to the science behind the seasons. This new instalment in the series is a pocket-sized introduction to autumn. Building on children’s natural curiosity about the world around them, it aims to establish a connection with nature at an early age that will go on to last a lifetime! Go berry picking, make art out of fallen leaves, identify mushrooms, and build a woodland den. Discover why the weather changes in autumn and how animals prepare for winter. The book features lyrical poems, hands-on crafts and activities, scientific facts, and identifier pages to help children spot different spiders, leaves and fungi. Whether a child’s access to nature is in the form of an urban park, a private garden, a field, or a forest, there is so much to discover and experience.

Part of the charming series inspired by the Forest School movement, teaching young children how to engage with nature from season to season. A Field Guide to Summer is a pocket-sized introduction to summer, inspired by the Forest School movement. Building on children’s natural curiosity about the world around them, this book aims to establish a connection with nature at an early age that will go on to last a lifetime! Hunt for bugs, build your own sun dial, identify different trees and make your own flower crown. Discover how caterpillars transform into butterflies and why bees are so busy in summertime. This book features lyrical poems, hands-on crafts and activities, scientific facts and identifier pages to help children spot different animals and plants. Whether a child’s access to nature is in the form of an urban park, a private garden, a field, or a forest, there is so much to discover and experience.

The latest addition to the charming series inspired by the Forest School movement, teaching young children how to engage with nature from season to season. A Field Guide to Winter is a pocket-sized introduction to winter, inspired by the Forest School movement. Building on children’s natural curiosity about the world around them, this book aims to establish a connection with nature at an early age that will go on to last a lifetime! Track paw prints through the snow, make your own woodland wind chimes, identify evergreen trees and write a bedtime story for a sleepy bear. Discover how snowflakes form and why some animals hibernate in winter. This book features lyrical poems, hands-on crafts and activities, scientific facts and identifier pages to help children spot different animals and plants. Whether a child’s access to nature is in the form of an urban park, a private garden, a field or a forest, there is so much to discover and experience.

A laugh-out-loud bedtime story in which a little girl imagines what it would be like to have a vampire bat for a pet. What would it be like to live a nocturnal lifestyle? What funny scenarios might one encounter trick-or-treating or at the funfair with a vampire bat as your pal? Facts about vampire bats combine with seasonal spookiness and positive messages about dental hygiene in this brilliant book for bedtime.

A board book edition of this charming and imaginative story in the bestselling 'If I had a...' series. There’s more to a crocodile than its scaly skin and scary teeth – they stay cool under pressure (in part because they can’t sweat) and on a rainy day, they love nothing more than a fast game of Snap! This latest addition to the 'If I Had a...' series is packed with humour and rollicking rhymes that young children readily catch on to. Its bold, graphic illustrations are stylish and packed with quirky details for children to spot. The book winds down to a satisfying end where the little girl drifts off to sleep, making it perfect for bedtime routines.

Now available as a board book: a boldly illustrated bedtime story that imagines what it would be like to have a strong and snuggly polar bear for a pet. What would life be like with a polar bear as a pet? Polar bears might look soft and cuddly, but they are also super-strong, so getting to school would be a breeze even on a snowy day. They'd show off their ice-skating skills, then help to hunt a fish-and-chip dinner. And since polar bears can swim for days at a time, with endurance like that, if Santa ever needed help delivering presents guess who he would call? Join our funny female protagonist in this newest wintry title in the If I had a... series, just in time for Christmas!

The fiery new title in the best-selling If I had a... series imagines life with a dragon as a pet. Imagine what it would be like to have a dragon as a pet. Join our funny female protagonist on her latest flight of fancy, but watch out for that burning bad breath! Dragons are mighty mythical beasts... and perfect pets. Getting to school is a breeze when you can fly, and you would never have to worry about lighting the barbecue. But what exactly do dragons eat? Perhaps a trip to the museum will help, just beware of knights in shining armour! Gabby and Alex's If I had a... series goes from strength to strength. The latest in the fantastically funny series is full of fantasy fun, wrapping up an exciting day of dragon adventures with a warm and cosy night-time scene, the perfect book for bedtime.

A boardback edition of this fiery tale in the bestselling 'If I Had a...' series, in which our protagonist imagines life with a dragon as a pet. Imagine what it would be like to have a dragon as a pet. Join our funny female protagonist on her latest flight of fancy, but watch out for that burning bad breath! Dragons are mighty mythical beasts... and perfect pets. Getting to school is a breeze when you can fly, and you would never have to worry about lighting the barbecue. But what exactly do dragons eat? Perhaps a trip to the museum will help, just beware of knights in shining armour! Gabby and Alex's If I had a... series goes from strength to strength. The latest in the fantastically funny series is full of fantasy fun, wrapping up an exciting day of dragon adventures with a warm and cosy night-time scene, the perfect book for bedtime.

An adorable, creatively chaotic story about a troupe of canine ballet dancers who are getting ready for their debut performance. Tonight is the night of The Bow-Wow Ballet! Ottilly Sausage does tricks with a ball, and Maximus Hopper jumps ever so high. This troupe of doggy dancers all want to be in the spotlight... Will their performance end in disaster? In this endearing and whimsical rhyming book, Gabby Dawnay and illustrator Jennifer Mae Spooner bring the show to glorious life.

The tenth story in the bestselling If I had a... series, which imagines life with a penguin as a pet. If I had a penguin starts innocently enough when a single Adélie penguin appears at the front door. What our protagonist hasn’t anticipated is that this penguin is part of a colony... If I had a penguin imagines a sequence of hilarious scenarios in which the Adélie penguins visit the waterpark, the seaside and the jazz club, before cramming themselves onto the sofa to watch a film and into the bathtub before bed. As ever, this book will delight readers with its rollicking rhymes and hilarious gags.

A charming field guide inspired by the Forest School movement, teaching young children how to engage with nature from season to season. A Field Guide to Nature is a pocket-sized introduction to all four seasons, inspired by the Forest School movement. Building on children’s natural curiosity about the world around them, this book aims to help young readers establish a connection with nature that will last a lifetime! Hunt for seedlings and learn about the water cycle in spring; discover how caterpillars turn into butterflies and build your own sundial in summer; make art from fallen leaves and identify mushrooms in autumn; track paw prints through the snow and write a bedtime story for a sleepy bear in winter. There is so much to explore and do in each season! This book features hands-on crafts and activities, scientific facts, and identifier pages to help children spot different animals and plants. Whether a child’s access to nature is in the form of an urban park, a private garden, a field, or a forest, there is so much to discover and experience.

Our protagonist Zach develops a love of reading thanks to the stubborn efforts of his friend Ro, who reveals the imaginative power of books. Zach isn’t convinced that books are for him – they’re too long, they’re boring and he would rather watch TV. But thanks to his friend Ro’s stubborn efforts, Zach falls for books hook, line and sinker, and loses himself in a world of dinosaurs, princesses, pirates, football and rocketships – anything and everything the library has to offer. The benefits of reading for pleasure are well researched. As well as being linked to academic attainment, reading for pleasure can increase empathy, our understanding of our own identity, and improve mental health. These outcomes are most likely when reading takes place out of free choice. Through lively rhymes and dynamic illustrations, The Library Book helps early readers understand the plethora of books available to them through their local library and encourages parents, guardians and teachers to help children find books that appeal to their personal interests. Written in a catchy rhyming style by bestselling author Gabby Dawnay, The Library Book will trigger a love of words in readers of all abilities, while Ian Morris’ inventive watercolour illustrations – which are reminiscent of two British illustration greats, Quentin Blake and Chris Riddell – make Zach’s emotional journey come alive. The combination is a picture book that will inspire a love of libraries, reading, books and words in even the most reluctant reader.