Mary Murphy is an award-winning children’s author and illustrator based in Ireland, loved by families for her warm, playful stories and instantly recognisable artwork. Here’s more about Mary, her books, and the journey that led her to writing for children.
Books by Mary Murphy
Mary has written around 40 children’s titles with publishers including Walker Books and Red Fox, and she illustrates her own work too. Here are some of Mary’s books you may recognise:
Comings and Goings at Parrot Park- Parrot Park
- How Kind
- Panda Foo and the New Friend
- Comet the Fairy Dog
- Moonchap
- All the Little Ones
- Little Owl and the Star
- I Like It When
- Please Be Quiet
- I Kissed The Baby
- Koala and the Flower
Mary Murphy as a child
Mary was the third of six children and a constant reader growing up. Her favourite books included Mary Poppins, Peter Pan and Tom’s Midnight Garden, and she also loved any story about animals.
Mary Murphy as an adult
Mary lives in Dublin, Ireland, and describes herself as “fairly outdoorish, but not sporty.” She enjoys walking, swimming, reading and cycling.
Mary Murphy as an artist
Mary studied Illustration and Design in Dublin before freelancing as an illustrator. She has always written for pleasure, and soon began developing ideas for children’s books around characters she had already visualised. One technique she sometimes uses is to draw a character in different situations and see what story follows from there.
Visit Mary’s official website for more fun facts and news about her latest books.
More children’s authors to discover
If you enjoyed learning about Mary Murphy, you might also like reading about Lucy Cousins and Holly Webb, two more brilliant authors loved by children and parents alike.
Do you have a favourite Mary Murphy book? Let us know in the comments below.
FAQs about Mary Murphy
Who is Mary Murphy?
Mary Murphy is an award-winning children’s author and illustrator based in Dublin, Ireland, known for warm, playful picture books such as Please Be Quiet and How Kind.
What books has Mary Murphy written?
Mary has written around 40 children’s titles, including Panda Foo and the New Friend, Comet the Fairy Dog, Little Owl and the Star and I Kissed The Baby, published by Walker Books and Red Fox among others.
Does Mary Murphy illustrate her own books?
Yes, Mary both writes and illustrates many of her books, and she also illustrates for other authors.
Where can I find out more about Mary Murphy?
You can visit Mary’s official website for further information about her books and news.
—
Fancy more ideas like this? Sign up for our free MyKidsTime newsletter for weekly parenting tips, book recommendations and family activity ideas straight to your inbox — completely free.
Looking for more great authors and books to explore with your kids? Browse our full collection of children’s author profiles for more inspiration.
