Kathryn Wanless
Comment: HeavyWP:PRIMARY sourcing. CherryPie94 🍒🥧 (talk) 03:58, 14 August 2026 (UTC)
Kathryn Wanless | |
|---|---|
| Born | United Kingdom |
| Occupation | Children's book author, illustrator, art teacher |
| Nationality | British |
| Period | 2025–present |
| Genre | Children's picture books |
| Website | |
| kathrynwanless | |
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Kathryn Wanless is a British children's book author, illustrator, and art teacher. She is best known for writing and illustrating picture books aimed at early childhood education and managing emotional development, such as Hangry (2025) and the critically acclaimed What Do We Do In Preschool? (2026).
Early life and education
Wanless grew up in the United Kingdom. She initially pursued an academic path, attending University College London (UCL) and graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics.[1] Driven by a passion for drawing, she has also achieved a Master of Arts in Children's Book Illustration from the Cambridge School of Art.[1]
Career
Prior to her career in publishing, Wanless spent several years in early years education, including six years teaching in schools in France, the Czech Republic and the United States.[1][2] She later transitioned into working as an art teacher, alongside writing and performing as a stage actress with a local Shakespeare theatre company.[1]
Wanless made her literary debut in August 2025 with Hangry, a rhyming picture book published by Templar Books. Illustrated by Fred Blunt, the book explores hunger-induced anger through its main character, Evangeline, helping young children identify and articulate physical emotional triggers.[3][4]
In June 2026, Wanless released her solo debut as both author and illustrator, What Do We Do In Preschool?, published by Red Comet Press in the United States and distributed internationally by Thames & Hudson.[2][5] The book received widespread critical praise from major industry trade publications. Publishers Weekly awarded the book a starred review, praising Wanless's "inside track" as a former educator and describing the book as a "smartly structured, lighthearted, and reassuringly specific lowdown" featuring inclusive, breezy illustrations.[6] Kirkus Reviews designated the book a "must-have" for early childhood transitions, highlighting its comforting predictability and rhythmic structure, ideal for reading aloud.[7] School Library Journal awarded the book a starred review, noting that the "illustrations mirror the text's soft, calming tone with warm, inclusive, and expressive artwork" and calling it an invaluable tool for families managing separation anxiety.[8]
In addition to her solo books, Wanless provided the artwork for God's Promises for Everyone, a family gift book written by author Shell Perris and published by SPCK Publishing.[9]
Bibliography
As Author
- Hangry (illustrated by Fred Blunt) – Templar Books (2025) ISBN 978-1800787445 Search this book on
. - What Do We Do In Preschool? (self-illustrated) – Red Comet Press / Thames & Hudson (2026) ISBN 978-1636551630 Search this book on .
As Illustrator
- God's Promises for Everyone (written by Shell Perris) – SPCK Publishing (2025) ISBN 978-0281090341 Search this book on .
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Wanless, Kathryn. "About the Author". Kathryn Wanless Official Website. Retrieved June 10, 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "What Do We Do In Preschool? by Kathryn Wanless". Thames & Hudson Australia. Retrieved June 10, 2026.
- ↑ Eagleton, Ian (August 14, 2025). "My Life In Books by Kathryn Wanless". The Reading Realm. Retrieved June 10, 2026.
- ↑ "Inspiration for Hangry by Kathryn Wanless". The Federation of Children's Book Groups. August 15, 2025. Retrieved August 4, 2026. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Red Comet Press Picture Books". Red Comet Press. June 2026. Retrieved June 10, 2026.
- ↑ "Children's Book Reviews: What Do We Do In Preschool? by Kathryn Wanless". Abrams Books.
- ↑ "What Do We Do In Preschool? by Kathryn Wanless". Kirkus Reviews. June 9, 2026. Retrieved June 10, 2026.
- ↑ "Preschool & Toddler Reviews: What Do We Do In Preschool?". School Library Journal. November 14, 2025. Retrieved June 10, 2026.
- ↑ "God's Promises for Everyone". SPCK Publishing / Kathryn Wanless Portfolio. Retrieved June 10, 2026.
External links
Category:Living people
Category:British children's writers
Category:British women children's writers
Category:British illustrators
Category:Women illustrators
Category:Alumni of University College London
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