Are you a fan of Holly Webb’s books? With more than 100 gorgeous books about animals, children and their special relationships, Holly has become a household name for young readers everywhere. Bunnies, puppies, kittens and princesses are just some of the characters that fill her stories, and she’s a firm favourite in homes and school libraries alike.
So how much do you really know about the woman behind all those beloved books? Here are 11 things you probably didn’t know about Holly Webb.
You may also enjoy: 10 of the Best Books by Holly Webb
Get to Know Holly Webb
1. She grew up between London and the coast.
Holly was born and grew up in south-east London but spent a lot of time on the Suffolk coast, a landscape that shows up again and again in her stories.
2. She studied Classics at university.
Holly studied Latin and Greek at school because she loved ancient myths, and went on to read Classics at university.
3. She didn’t set out to become a writer.
Holly’s writing career started almost by accident. She says: “I was working as an editor at Scholastic and we brain-stormed this new series called The Triplets. I didn’t want to hand over the characters I had drafted to someone else to develop so I decided to write the books myself.”
4. She has three sons, including a set of twins.
Family life has clearly shaped her warm, character-driven storytelling.
5. She once had a cat called Rosie.
A little glimpse into the real-life pets that may have inspired some of her animal characters.
6. She also had an English bull terrier called Alice.
Holly remembers Alice fondly: “She got older and grumpier at the time I was a grumpy teenager, so we kind of suited each other. The main thing that made her grumpy was that she hated sand and we lived by the sea – she was a city dog really.”
7. She once looked after nine gerbils at once.
This happened entirely by accident, after her dad brought home a new gerbil without checking its gender first — and the gerbil family grew quickly from there!
8. She runs a Girl Guide group.
Alongside her writing, Holly is involved in community life through Girl Guiding.
9. She wrote her very first book on trains.
Nervous about sharing her work, Holly took an unusual approach: “I had to leave it on someone’s desk with a note as I was too scared to say I’d written it.”
10. She has written more than 100 books.
An incredible body of work that continues to grow, all centred on the themes of kindness, animals and family.
11. Her favourite children’s book is a Narnia classic.
Holly names The Horse and His Boy, part of C. S. Lewis’s Narnia series, as her personal favourite.
You may also enjoy: All About Author Holly Webb
What’s Your Favourite Holly Webb Book?
With over 100 stories to choose from, everyone seems to have their own favourite. Leave a comment below and let us know which one your family loves most — we’d love to hear from you!
More Reading Ideas for Kids
If you enjoyed learning about Holly Webb, you might also like our roundup of her best books, or our wider collection of children’s author features and reading recommendations for young animal lovers.
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