Lauren O'Hara – illustratör

Mei Mei is a little bunny with a big dream. She wants to make the world happy with her music! Her first recital at the H'Opera House is approaching, and she's been practicing harder than any bunny ever has. But the butterflies in her stomach flit and flutter.When Mei Mei plays the wrong note in front of everyone, will she be able to find the melody to make it right?

From the inimitable O'Hara sisters, Once Upon a Fairytale is a story where the reader gets to decide on the adventure – the possibilities are endless.Did you ever wish to feast with fairies, live in a tree, or ride a unicorn across the sun-lit sky? Here, in this magical world, you can. You can choose to be a clever princess, or a curious gingerbread man, or perhaps a gentle knight. Maybe you'll live in a tree, or a tower on a hill. You can eat fresh-buttered sunbeams with fairies, or newt pie and pigtail pudding with ogres. Everywhere you look, you will find a new adventure. Just pick the one you like best.A captivating book where the child chooses the story they want to tell – empowering children to become storytellers and weave their very own fairytale.

"Through the dark and wolfish woods,through the white and silent snow,lived a small girl called Hortense.Though kind and brave, she was sad as an owl because of one thing . . . Hortense hated her shadow."A beautifully illustrated dark fairy tale that will remind you of the fables you read as a child. A treasure not to be missed.

"O Bandit Queen!" the bandits cried. "Little horror! Poison weed!We'll give you everything a queen could ever need..."The bandits give their queen treasure, tigers, mischief and mayhem. But sometimes a little girl needs something more...A beautiful book about finding family in unexpected places, from the creators of Hortense and the Shadow.

Experience a heartwarming tale of self-belief in this enchanting picture book by GRAMMY® Award-winning musician Laufey.Meet Mei Mei, a little bunny with a big dream: to spread joy through her music! As her debut recital at the H’Opera House draws near, Mei Mei diligently practises playing her violin, yet struggles with her unsettled nerves. What will happen if she hits a wrong note?This charming story features the debut authorship of world-renowned musician Laufey, who provides a comforting tale of honing confidence and child-friendly definitions of musical terminology. The cosy illustrations have been provided by multi-award-winning illustrator Lauren O'Hara. Her cuddly colour palette provides a world children will want to explore again and again! Join Mei Mei in this touching story about embracing imperfections and finding the courage to pursue your dreams. Perfect for young readers learning about perseverance, this story will inspire children to believe in their own unique talents and abilities.

A behind-the-scenes tour of the magnificent Royal Opera House in London, thirty minutes before curtain up, led by Figaro the cat. It’s opening night of The Nutcracker, and the performers at the Royal Opera House in London are busy getting ready to step out onto the stage. Meanwhile, Figaro – the opera house’s resident cat – is poised to take readers on a behind-the-scenes tour to meet the many people working to make tonight’s performance a resounding success. This backstage tour of the Royal Opera House takes readers from department to department to discover what’s involved in putting on a performance such as The Nutcracker. Featuring examples from key works of opera and ballet, highlights of the tour include trying on the Mad Hatter’s wig from Alice in Wonderland; practising for a fighting scene from Romeo and Juliet; putting the finishing touches on the Sugar Plum Fairy’s tutu; learning to ‘play dead’; and creating explosions on stage. Including an introduction to a classical orchestra, key ballet terms and basic stage directions, the book encourages readers to explore the many ways they can get involved.

A perfect Christmas gift for the whole for the whole family, Once Upon a Stolen Sleigh is a snow-capped, present-filled choose-your-own Christmas adventure from the inimitable O'Hara sisters. You, the reader, are in charge of this tale!It's a magical time in Lapland. Bells are ringing, moose are carolling and pies are mincing. But things are not as merry as they seem. While the elves are packing Santa's sleigh, the Thief King is plotting to steal it all!Only one hero is clever enough to save the day – you! You will need to choose the perfect present for each person on Santa's list – will it be the twinkling marbles, or the silver flowers? The gem-covered bracelets, or the sugar plums? Only by delivering the presents will you be able to save Santa, and Christmas itself.A captivating book of choices where the child picks the story they want to tell – empowering children to become storytellers and weave their very own Christmas fairytale.

A perfect Christmas gift for the whole for the whole family, Once Upon a Stolen Sleigh is a snow-capped, present-filled choose-your-own Christmas adventure from the inimitable O'Hara sisters. You, the reader, are in charge of this tale!It's a magical time in Lapland. Bells are ringing, moose are carolling and pies are mincing. But things are not as merry as they seem. While the elves are packing Santa's sleigh, the Thief King is plotting to steal it all!Only one hero is clever enough to save the day – you! You will need to choose the perfect present for each person on Santa's list – will it be the twinkling marbles, or the silver flowers? The gem-covered bracelets, or the sugar plums? Only by delivering the presents will you be able to save Santa, and Christmas itself.A captivating book of choices where the child picks the story they want to tell – empowering children to become storytellers and weave their very own Christmas fairytale.

A timeless illustrated story of friendship, dinosaurs and the magic of imagination for readers aged 5+ by a bestselling author and an award-winning artist. Mabel lives with her parents in The Mermaid Hotel by the sea. She likes to keep an eye on the comings and goings of all the guests, particularly their most interesting guest and Mabel's best friend, Madame Badobedah: one of the first lady explorers who has travelled all over the world!Madame Badobedah has pirouetted through pyramids, skated across rivers, swum with mermaids and even helped a Triceratops with a toothache – now she tells Mabel all about her adventures while the two mudlark at the seaside.And Madame Badobedah and Mabel team up for a new adventure: returning a priceless emerald to the Natural History Museum. And, just maybe, they will meet a dinosaur along the way…PRAISE FOR MADAME BADOBEDAH"Illustrated with airy, light-hearted charm by Lauren O’Hara [...] This longer-form picture book taps astutely into the imaginative life of an adventurous child, is lovely both the read and listen to." The Guardian"Swashbuckling and mysterious [...] I can't recommend it enough as a gift [...] it's a beautiful kids' book" Dolly Alderton"Any imaginative child will warm to this funny, touching story of lonely only child Mabel. Beautifully illustrated, this is a joyous debut." The Daily Mail"My favourite contemporary kids’ author" Evening Standard Magazine“a playful and beguiling voice” The Observer"Dahl’s engaging style – teamed with Lauren O’Hara’s gorgeous illustrations – make it a book to remember." Press Association"Innocence meets experience in this story that’s as beautifully illustrated as it is told." i newspaper"plenty of charm" The Daily Telegraph"one of 2019’s most exciting and imaginative picture books [...] Sophie Dahl’s debut for children is wonderfully eccentric and imaginative, and also tells a powerful tale of friendship [...]The pictures are also a pure delight." The Sun

Can you feel a tremble in the wind? The sun grows pale. The wild things hide. Frindleswylde is coming! When the mysterious boy Frindleswylde enters Cora and Grandma's house in the woods, he steals the light from their lantern. Without it, Grandma will not be able to return home after work in the dark. Cora is determined to get the lantern back, but first she must follow Frindleswylde down a hole in the pond that leads to his magical frozen kingdom, where he sets her three Impossible Tasks. Reminiscent of The Snow Queen, beautifully written and sumptuously illustrated, Frindleswylde is a classic in the making.

A timeless story celebrating friendship and imagination, from an exciting new voice in children's literature.Mabel lives with her parents in the Mermaid Hotel, by the sea. Mabel likes to keep an eye on the comings and goings of all the guests. Then one day a particularly in-ter-est-ing old lady comes to stay. There is something very suspicious about her, with her growly voice and her heavy trunks and her beady-eyed tortoise. And why does no one know her REAL name? There can only be one answer, Mabel decides ... this guest is a SUPERVILLAIN. But even supervillains have a soft side, and as an unlikely friendship grows between the pair, their fantastical exploits take them well beyond the corridors of their seaside home.

A beautifully illustrated book of lively retellings of classic ballet stories. The perfect gift for young dance lovers."Perfect for small ballet fans." GuardianFrom Swan Lake to The Firebird, and The Nutcracker to Coppélia, Vivian French breathes new life into seven ballet favourites in her timeless, gloriously-immersive retellings. Her words are perfectly complemented by Lauren O'Hara's characterful illustrations, which strike the perfect balance between classic and contemporary, and the result is a treasury which shimmers with the magic of the ballet ... certain to leave readers of all ages spellbound!

A timeless illustrated story of friendship, dinosaurs and the magic of imagination for readers aged 5+ by a bestselling author and an award-winning artist. Mabel lives with her parents in The Mermaid Hotel by the sea. She likes to keep an eye on the comings and goings of all the guests, particularly their most interesting guest and Mabel's best friend, Madame Badobedah: one of the first lady explorers who has travelled all over the world!Madame Badobedah has pirouetted through pyramids, skated across rivers, swum with mermaids and even helped a Triceratops with a toothache – now she tells Mabel all about her adventures while the two mudlark at the seaside.And Madame Badobedah and Mabel team up for a new adventure: returning a priceless emerald to the Natural History Museum. And, just maybe, they will meet a dinosaur along the way…PRAISE FOR THE MADAME BADOBEDAH SERIES"Illustrated with airy, light-hearted charm by Lauren O’Hara [...] This longer-form picture book taps astutely into the imaginative life of an adventurous child, is lovely both the read and listen to." The Guardian"Swashbuckling and mysterious [...] I can't recommend it enough as a gift [...] it's a beautiful kids' book" Dolly Alderton"Any imaginative child will warm to this funny, touching story of lonely only child Mabel. Beautifully illustrated, this is a joyous debut." The Daily Mail"My favourite contemporary kids’ author" Evening Standard Magazine“a playful and beguiling voice” The Observer"Dahl’s engaging style – teamed with Lauren O’Hara’s gorgeous illustrations – make it a book to remember." Press Association"Innocence meets experience in this story that’s as beautifully illustrated as it is told." i newspaper"plenty of charm" The Daily Telegraph"one of 2019’s most exciting and imaginative picture books [...] Sophie Dahl’s debut for children is wonderfully eccentric and imaginative, and also tells a powerful tale of friendship [...]The pictures are also a pure delight." The Sun

Can you feel a tremble in the wind? The sun grows pale. The wild things hide. Frindleswylde is coming!When the mysterious boy Frindleswylde enters Cora and Grandma's house in the woods, he steals the light from their lantern. Without it, Grandma will not be able to return home after work in the dark. Cora is determined to get the lantern back, but first she must follow Frindleswylde down a hole in the pond that leads to his magical frozen kingdom, where he sets her three Impossible Tasks. Reminiscent of The Snow Queen, beautifully written and sumptuously illustrated, Frindleswylde is a classic in the making.