Emma Sandford

Awards

• Maincrest Media Award
• Royal Dragonfly Award
• Litpick Book Award
• Literary Titan Award

Details

Hello!

I'm Emma Sandford, a children’s author based in Cheshire. I am also a patron of Liverpool-based children's charity, Kingsley & Co / Ykids.

Published by Full Media Ltd, I created the Sumatran Trilogy in partnership with Rainforest Trust UK, and every copy I sell raises £1 for this wonderful charity. I'm proud that my books entertain and educate children while also saving acres of rainforest in the Leuser ecosystem in Sumatra, where the books are set. 

For many years, I wanted to write a children’s book that draws on my own experiences and helps young children overcome personal issues. One day, I had a light-bulb moment. It dawned on me that porcupines have a very obvious defence mechanism where they show their quills, stamp their feet and chatter with their teeth when feeling threatened. They are also very cute, so perfect for a children’s picture book!

Unfortunately, due to traumatic events in my own life, I have also been defensive in situations where I didn’t need to be, and I was frightened to let people get close to me. The Problem With Poppy is a light-hearted and subtle way of teaching kids that while everybody has a natural defence mechanism, there is a time and a place to use it. By the end of the story, Poppy has learnt this valuable lesson and she makes a lifelong friend in the process. 

The Problem with Poppy was published in June 2021 and won numerous awards including Maincrest Media Award, Royal Dragonfly Award and Literary Titan. What’s Troubling Tawny? was published in January 2022 and has also won a Maincrest Media Award and Literary Titan (you can read my interviews with Literary Titan here and here). The final book in the trilogy, Hooray For Heidi!, will be published in June 2022.

REVIEWS OF MY BOOKS:

“The Problem with Poppy is a sensitive, well thought out book that has a depth sometimes missing in children’s stories.” – Linda Hill, award-winning book blogger ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

“The Problem with Poppy by Emma Sandford is a perfect combination of fun and learning that any little kid will love.” – Readers’ Favorite ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

“What's Troubling Tawny is a wonderful book about body positivity and sharing…” ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Readers’ Favorite

“What’s Troubling Tawny is the most gorgeous story of friendship, self-confidence and fun.” ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Linda Hill

“A beautiful, uplifting story that helps teach children to feel positive about themselves, both inside and out. Told through a tale of friendship between wonderful wildlife characters, What’s Troubling Tawny? is a reminder of all that is really important in our world and what we most need to cherish.” ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Claire Culliford, author of The Little Helpers series

As well as supporting Rainforest Trust UK, I want to help children with my books. Being a patron of Kingsley & Co and YKids allows me to do this. Kingsley & Co is a literacy project with the vision to engage as many children as possible with stories, reading and adventure. Ykids is a charity working to create transformation in Bootle and beyond, through working with children, young people and families.

I'd love to come to your school and inspire your children to read more, use their imaginations and maybe even becoming writers themselves! I'm happy to travel to your school or we can work via Zoom or other online platforms.

Thanks for reading! I hope to hear from you soon!

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