Laura Dockrill – författare

Feast your eyes on a treasury of words and illustrations from one of the most exciting young talents around, recently voted by The Times as one of the top ten literary talents of 2008.Enter the weird and wonderful world of Laura Dockrill …I draw like a left-handed baby, I can hardly spell my own name and watching me use a glue-stick is a bit like watching a large bear trying to ram his own head into a pocket-sized cat-flap …no, really.But once the book is finished, when I can see the pages coming together, getting thicker and thicker, detailed and covered with stories and my imagination recorded on pages …everything at last makes sense (to me at least).I did this because I have got things to say. I've got pictures I want you to see and characters I want you to meet – the crying ice-skating boy, the Rolf Harris obsessive, the rude girl in McDonalds with the chocolate milkshake and the try-hard Mighty Boosh watching mum.I don't keep a diary. I think they’re crap.But this is much more than a diary. This is my map.

Roald Dahl and Quention Blake meets Tim Burton in sassy poet Laura Dockrill’s edgy and hilarious taleYou might have known somebody like Ugly Shy Girl once …You might have seen her bumping into lamp-posts and tripping over her bag.She wears a denim skirt down to her ankles and a second-hand Naf Naf jacket.Her hair hangs down in front of her face and her nails are bitten and sore.She is always doing or saying completely the wrong thing.This itwisted tale is about the struggle of growing up in a place where you don’t belong, surrounded by people you hate …and how delicious getting your own back can be.

A collection of terrifyingly wicked fairytales and poems from The Times’ Talent to Watch, Laura DockrillImmerse yourself in the magical world of Laura Dockrill; a land where all is not as it seems. Between the covers of this book lie worlds you’ll never want to leave, stories familiar and yet strange, and characters old, made new… Dip inside to discover today’s Princess and the Pea, the modern Hansel and Gretel, twenty-first century ghouls, monsters and more. Darkly humorous and bone-shatteringly terrifying – this collection of tales will reel you in and won't let you escape its spell…

Readers LOVE I Love You, I Love You, I Love You 'The nostalgic book of my dreams' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'I was crying along to their heartache and cheering along to their triumph' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'Hilarious, heart-breaking and swoon-worthy' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐❤ ❤ ❤ It's the year 2000. Summer here in London is almost over. There are rumours the world is about to end, and yet my soft little universe is finally opening up, just getting started.When I see him I fall through the ground. He's just a boy but I am lost in a starburst galaxy. A rip tide. A hurricane. Sweet and delicious as crisp cherryade.I'm on fire. I'm in love…with my best friend.❤ ❤ ❤Your favourite authors love I Love You, I Love You, I Love You'Bursts with energy' Matt Haig ‘Just DELICIOUS'Kirsty Capes 'What a book!' Giovanna Fletcher 'Extraordinary' Lindsey Kelk 'Wonderful' Sophie Ellis-Bextor 'Glorious' Salena Godden 'Transporting' Sophie Dahl 'I loved it, I loved it, I loved it!' Dawn O'Porter

Readers LOVE I Love You, I Love You, I Love You 'The nostalgic book of my dreams' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'I was crying along to their heartache and cheering along to their triumph' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'Hilarious, heart-breaking and swoon-worthy' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐❤ ❤ ❤ It's the year 2000. Summer here in London is almost over. There are rumours the world is about to end, and yet my soft little universe is finally opening up, just getting started.When I see him I fall through the ground. He's just a boy but I am lost in a starburst galaxy. A rip tide. A hurricane. Sweet and delicious as crisp cherryade.I'm on fire. I'm in love…with my best friend.❤ ❤ ❤Your favourite authors love I Love You, I Love You, I Love You'Bursts with energy' Matt Haig 'Just DELICIOUS'Kirsty Capes 'What a book!' Giovanna Fletcher 'Extraordinary' Lindsey Kelk 'Wonderful' Sophie Ellis-Bextor 'Glorious' Salena Godden 'Transporting' Sophie Dahl 'I loved it, I loved it, I loved it!' Dawn O'Porter

Readers LOVE I Love You, I Love You, I Love You 'The nostalgic book of my dreams''I was crying along to their heartache and cheering along to their triumph''Hilarious, heart-breaking and swoon-worthy'❤ ❤ ❤ It's the year 2000. Summer here in London is almost over. There are rumours the world is about to end, and yet my soft little universe is finally opening up, just getting started.When I see him I fall through the ground. He's just a boy but I am lost in a starburst galaxy. A rip tide. A hurricane. Sweet and delicious as crisp cherryade.I'm on fire. I'm in love…with my best friend.❤ ❤ ❤Your favourite authors love I Love You, I Love You, I Love You'Bursts with energy' Matt Haig 'Just DELICIOUS'Kirsty Capes 'What a book!' Giovanna Fletcher 'Extraordinary' Lindsey Kelk 'Wonderful' Sophie Ellis-Bextor 'Glorious' Salena Godden 'Transporting' Sophie Dahl 'I loved it, I loved it, I loved it!' Dawn O'Porter

A warm, laugh-out-loud funny, poignant novel about sisterhood and finding your place in the world from the author of I Love You, I Love You, I Love You.Leonie and Nora couldn’t be less alike.Leonie is brave and bold. She left the Isle of Pitte behind in search of adventure and swore she’d never return. Nora prefers the cosy embrace of home. And besides, one of them has to take some responsibility.When her reckless lifestyle catches up with her, Leonie returns home to Pitte to recover in the comforting, cloying care of her younger sister. Instead, she's surprised to find reliable, steadfast Nora is just as lost as she is.Leonie and Nora have spent their lives certain they've nothing in common, but it seems they each have exactly what the other needs. And there's no one who can heal you – or hurt you – quite like a sister.Praise for Laura Dockrill:'Bursts with energy' Matt Haig'Just DELICIOUS' Kirsty Capes'What a book!' Giovanna Fletcher'Extraordinary' Lindsey Kelk'Wonderful' Sophie Ellis-Bextor'Glorious' Salena Godden'Transporting' Sophie Dahl'I loved it, I loved it, I loved it!' Dawn O'Porter

A warm, laugh-out-loud funny, poignant novel about sisterhood and finding your place in the world from the author of I Love You, I Love You, I Love You.Leonie and Nora couldn’t be less alike.Leonie is brave and bold. She left the Isle of Pitte behind in search of adventure and swore she’d never return. Nora prefers the cosy embrace of home. And besides, one of them has to take some responsibility.When her reckless lifestyle catches up with her, Leonie returns home to Pitte to recover in the comforting, cloying care of her younger sister. Instead, she's surprised to find reliable, steadfast Nora is just as lost as she is.Leonie and Nora have spent their lives certain they've nothing in common, but it seems they each have exactly what the other needs. And there's no one who can heal you – or hurt you – quite like a sister.Praise for Laura Dockrill:'Bursts with energy' Matt Haig'Just DELICIOUS' Kirsty Capes'What a book!' Giovanna Fletcher'Extraordinary' Lindsey Kelk'Wonderful' Sophie Ellis-Bextor'Glorious' Salena Godden'Transporting' Sophie Dahl'I loved it, I loved it, I loved it!' Dawn O'Porter

Ten-year-old Darcy sees the extraordinary in the everyday and the wonder in the world around her. This third book sees Darcy encounter extra-large-amounts of drama - mice have invaded her house, which means the family must get a cat. Cue a mega-meltdown in a pet shop and then the arrival of Pork, an angry dumpling of a cat who terrifies Lamb-Beth. And while chaos rules at home, Will's long-lost dad has turned-up and taken him out of school. Who will Darcy be friends with now? Must she hang-out with school secretary Mavis EVERY DAY FOR ALL ETERNITY?Joyous drawings, colourful characters and a high-energy voice - the Darcy Burdock books are packed with personality from start to finish.

Ten-year-old Darcy Burdock is one of life's noticers. Curious, smart, funny and fiercely loyal, she sees the extraordinary in the everyday and the wonder in the world around her.In this first book, we are introduced to her family: Mum, who Darcy loves as much as her favourite fried egg and chips, Dad, who is kind and fair if a bit hopeless, and little siblings Hector and Poppy, who Darcy likes dressing up in ridiculous outfits and having dance-offs with, respectively. Plus there's her pet lamb, Lamb-Beth and best friend, Will, to have adventures with.Darcy learns that turning into an angrosaurus-rex and causing chaos just gets you in trouble, it's best not to throw a massive strop just before your surprise birthday party, Halloween is all about spider costumes and having a pumpkin with a wonky eye, and if you're ever in a situation where you're not sure what to do, you should write a story around it, and the truth will be illuminated by your imagination.

Ten-year-old Darcy sees the extraordinary in the everyday and the wonder in the world around her. This second book sees Darcy move-up to Big School - and all of a sudden EVERYTHING changes. Her best friend Will isn't sure he should talk to girls anymore, her new teacher may in actual fact be a cauldron-bubbling witch and, horror of horrors, her precious pet Lamb-Beth goes missing. Can Darcy face these challenges head-on, armed only with her curious, whip-smart mind and eye for a story?Joyous drawings, colourful characters and a high-energy voice - the Darcy Burdock books are packed with personality from start to finish.

Ten-year-old Darcy Burdock is one of life's noticers. She sees the extraordinary in the everyday, and the wonder in the world around her.This is Darcy's fourth story, and the Burdock family are facing a series of disasters. Mum and Dad are having serious money worries. Darcy's granny (the one she doesn't like as much as her main most important grandma) has come to stay, and is snapping at everyone. Pork the cat's real owner has turned up, and wants to take him away. And to top it all off, Darcy is dreading her school sleepover - especially as she's the owner of the world's most ugly, stupid, babyish pyjamas.Can the power of Darcy's colourful, wild, glittering imagination turn all her troubles around?

Ten-year-old Darcy Burdock is one of life's noticers. She sees the extraordinary in the everyday, and the wonder in the world around her.In Darcy's fifth story, it's the summer holidays and Darcy is not impressed that her family haven't gone to Hawaii like she wanted. Her best friend Will has abandoned her. Worst of all, Darcy has to pack up all her things ready for moving house.But Darcy is not going to throw a temper tantrum, as much as she wants to, because she's set herself the hardest challenge of her whole entire life: for the next six weeks, Darcy is not going to be dramatic. AT ALL!

No school.No THANKS.No. NO. NO!Laura Dockrill's inimitable style of poetic rap is brilliantly suited to this romp through the house and round and round the playgroup, as one little poodle demonstrates what fun it is to stomp and stamp and pout . . . that is until naptime, when all she really wants is a . . . CUDDLE! There is a funky music video quality to this text, and the eye popping artwork matches the anarchic playfulness of the rap!

Celebrate the wonder of mums with this hilarious poetry collection - perfect for gifting!Right.That's it. It's full.She saidI officially have no space left.All my heart is taken upWith love for you in my chest.From one of the UK's leading performance poets, this collection celebrates the very best types of mum, including mum as gamer, party animal, slob and free spirit. Inspired by Laura Dockrill's own experiences of childhood and motherhood, these poems will make you laugh and celebrate the wonder of mums.'Entertaining.' The i'Vibrant, hilarious and touching book of well-crafted and original poems. A truly lovely book.' BookTrust

Prepare to fall absolutely in love with this irresistible cookie, crumbly chocolate chips and all.OH NO! Barbra the cactus won’t stop playing her recorder, the yummy strawberry toothpaste has run out, and now – to top it all off – Cookie has to have his hair cut! Which all makes for one VERY ANGRY little cookie... But perhaps you, the reader, can find a way to turn his grumpy frown upside down? This wildly inventive, interactive, laugh-out-loud tale brings Laura Dockrill's one-of-a-kind voice and Maria Karipidou's hilarious illustrations to the Walker list.

An iconic picture book collaboration about feelings and acceptance from two of the most beloved voices in children's literature. Beautifully crafted compositions together with simple die-cut design, reveal the story of a child who feels as though all their colours have disappeared. Despite the joyful orange balloon, the huge yellow sun and the bright green trees, the child still feels grey. That is until a reassuring hand reaches out and shares words of kindness. Soon the child begins to see the warmth of colour again, and understands that their colours will always be there and that they will always be loved, whether they feel grey or sunshine yellow. Laura and Lauren have created a beautiful book full of empathy and understanding that will provide comfort and hope to readers of all ages.

They say they always know you’re up to something when the house goes quiet…Exploring his mother’s bedroom, a little boy discovers THE LIPSTICK. It begins on his lips, where it looks very good – MWAH! But then it goes for a little walk … squiggle, squiggle … on the mirror … scribble scribble … on the shiny floorboards … smudge smudge. And even on the fluffy cat. Uh-oh! What will happen when Mum, Dad and big sister see all this mess? From the team behind Angry Cookie comes a hilarious and joyous story all about artistic expression, self-confidence and supportive, accepting parenting.

Colourful, raw, brave, rich and fantastical - this mermaid tale is not for the faint-hearted.Looking after a naked girl he found washed up under Hastings pier isn't exactly how Rory had imagined spending his sixteenth birthday. But more surprising than finding her in the first place is discovering where she has come from.Lorali is running not just from the sea, not just from her position as princess, but her entire destiny. Lorali has rejected life as a mermaid, and become human.But along with Lorali's arrival, and the freak weather suddenly battering the coast, more strange visitors begin appearing in Rory's bemused Sussex town. With beautifully coiffed hair, sharp-collared shirts and a pirate ship shaped like a Tudor house, the Abelgare boys are a mystery all of their own. What are they really up to? Can Rory protect Lorali? And who from? And where does she really belong, anyway?

Forget what you know about mermaids with Laura Dockrill's hilarious, riotous adventure not to be missed.It has been two years since Rory drowned, and Lorali is in Hastings, living the quiet life of a normal teenage girl. But her safe life on land won't last for long. Life in The Whirl has become a hotbed of underwater politics and as the council jostles to oust the king, one Mer in particular has her eye on Lorali as the key to her own rise to power.Meanwhile, Aurabel, a lowly Mer from the wrong side of the trench, is attacked by sea beasts and left for dead - and without a tail. Raging with righteous anger, she rebuilds herself a mechanical tail and reinvents herself as a fearless steampunk Mer seeking revenge. But she never expected the most important job that was about to drop into her lap.Laura Dockrill makes a dramatic return to the sea set in the same world as the sparkling and magnetic mermaid story, Lorali.

The heartwarming new novel from the sparkling Laura Dockrill, introducing Bluebelle, and her moving, hilarious take on food, body image and how we look after ourselves and others.It's a food diary. I have to tell the truth. That's the point.Bluebelle, aka BB, aka Big Bones - is a sixteen-year-old girl encouraged to tackle her weight even though she's perfectly happy, thank you, and getting on with her life and in love with food. Then a tragedy in the family forces BB to find a new relationship with her body and herself. . .Tuck in for best mates, belly laughs, boys and the best Bakewell tart.-----Love for BIG BONES'Big Bones is the book I wish I'd had as a teenager and Bluebelle is a friend I wish I had today. Laura has written a beautiful love letter to some of the most important things in life: friends, family and food.' Linsdey Kelk'Stuffed with lashings of laugh-out-loud loveliness (just wait until you read about Bum Tills...), relatable real-life truths and love in all its complicated, dizzying forms (food-love, friend-love, sisterly-love, boy-love, self-love), this is, quite simply, the best YA book about self-esteem and body image I've ever read' Lovereading

"This book is much like the author - warm, honest, open, encouraging. I loved it and want to buy a copy for every creative teenager I know." - Louise O'NeillA guide for using creative writing to speak your own truth.You are enough. You are interesting. Tell your story. Celebrated writer Laura Dockrill knows that the best writing comes when you are speaking your own truth, with your own voice. Expressing yourself honestly is a powerful way to know yourself and grow to celebrate the exciting, creative, unique person you are.When you are a teenager, everything feels different. How are you supposed to figure out who you are when it seems like teachers, parents, friends, the rest of the world, are all asking you to be something else? It can be overwhelming but the best way to steer yourself through this crazy, brilliant time is to hold on to your sense of you. Laura's stress-free invitations to creative writing encourage you to find your voice, celebrate it and use it.

'Such a raw, honest and important book' Giovanna FletcherLike any new mum, Laura Dockrill felt rather overwhelmed after the birth of her son. But a slow recovery, sleep deprivation and anxiety quickly escalated into postpartum psychosis, and she had to spend a fortnight in a psych ward, separated from her family. It was only when Laura began to put her ordeal into words that she began to find herself again, and recovery seemed within reach.This is Laura's raw, honest and life-affirming story of how she made it through one of the most frightening experiences a mother can face. Now, she wants to break down the silence around postnatal mental health, shatter the idealised expectations of perfect motherhood, and show all new struggling parents that they are not alone.'A book to save a whole generation of women' AdeleA pleasure to read...I didn't want to put it down. If anyone is going through a similar experience it will make them feel less alone' Philippa Perry'A humbingly honest and human war report from the front lines of mothering psychosis and recovery; there is no other book like it' Caitlin Moran'An incredibly powerful book' Jessie Ware'This book will give women and their families confidence that the brain and body will heal' Dr Jessica Heron, CEO of Action on Postpartum Psychosis'An amazing read' Fiona Telford, postpartum psychosis survivor

"This is a sensitive, beautifully illustrated book that helps children to re-frame their worries, and helps them to cope when their thoughts can start to feel overwhelming. I’d recommend it for all parents." - Prof Sam Wass, Child Psychologist and Neuroscientist "This book is a beautiful exploration of the all-too-common feelings of overwhelm and worry and acts as a sensitive guide to how young readers can cope when faced with their own very big thoughts. . . a sweet and supportive story. . . This is a gentle and hopeful read with a message of self-compassion." Inis Magazine, CBI There are times when I don’t feel like myself. In these wobbly moments, my belly feels sick, my heart thumps, and sometimes I even want to cry. And that's because I'm worried. I call my worries … BIG THOUGHTS.Everyone has worries: BIG THOUGHTS. These Big Thoughts can be invisible, but loud – nobody else can hear the racket they make inside your head. Big Thoughts can be about the future – things that haven't and won't ever even happen – or about the past. Big Thoughts can even be make-believe. That's the annoying thing about Big Thoughts … they don't always tell the truth.In her distinctively fizzy voice, Laura Dockrill connects with her readers – making them feel completely seen and heard – and offers children very real coping strategies to calm their worried minds; strategies they can carry with them throughout their lives. Richly detailed and emotive illustrations from Ashling Lindsay make this a vital read to reassure the anxious minds of children of all ages.

An iconic picture book collaboration about feelings and acceptance from two of the most beloved voices in children's literature.Beautifully crafted compositions together with simple die-cut design, reveal the story of a child who feels as though all their colours have disappeared. Despite the joyful orange balloon, the huge yellow sun and the bright green trees, the child still feels grey. That is until a reassuring hand reaches out and shares words of kindness. Soon the child begins to see the warmth of colour again, and understands that their colours will always be there and that they will always be loved, whether they feel grey or sunshine yellow. Laura and Lauren have created a beautiful book full of empathy and understanding that will provide comfort and hope to readers of all ages.

This little elephant is GOING CAMPING! And no, DAD, he will not need his teddies - he's FIVE. Besides, you don’t need teddies out in the wild, OK? Not even when it is dark (so dark) and the sky is endless black and there are scrunchy-crunchy noises all around...This little elephant is going camping. He’s never been before and he can’t wait for marshmallows on sticks, singing by the campfire and sleeping under the stars! When his grown-up asks, “Now, are you sure you don’t want to bring a teddy?” He’s SURE. He's way too old for for teddies. So, goodbye and good luck Mr Conkie, Gladys the hedgehog, Sugarpie and Bad Debbie (who really is bad) and it's all sun’s out, tent up, fire lit ... oh yeah. But when night comes … it’s so quiet, and dark and spooky in the tent and - guess what? - HE WANTS HIS TEDDIES! Luckily, quick-thinking Dad comes up with the perfect solution: Sockflea! Two (slightly smelly) socks become – ta-da! – a loveable rabbit. The perfect sock teddy for cosying up to.Goofy, deliciously funny and very relatable, Laura Dockrill and Eva Byrne have made a true laugh-out-loud picture book about being brave and adventuring in the great outdoors.