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What IS she up to??!!
Click here for the scoup:
A Dolly Adventure Trilogy - told in four parts (maybe more!) The BLOG has them in reverse order since I wrote them as the adventure unfolded, so I've copied them into a regular page for an easier reader experience. Check it out! |
New story!
UK and Ireland edition from Alanna Max - OUT October 2026
There is something rather wonderful about watching a child decide to make a space entirely their own.
For Lulu, that begins with an old yellow parasol. Then a blue blanket. Pegs. Fairy lights. Pom-poms. Stars. Favourite books. Precious things. And nobody tells her what to make. That might be what I love most about Anna McQuinn and Rosalind Beardshaw's Lulu's Perfect Hideout. Lulu decides on her project, gathers what she needs, transforms ordinary household objects and establishes the rules of the tiny world she has created. There is a vital celebration of early play here. A blanket isn't always a blanket. A parasol isn't always a parasol. Give a child ownership of both and they might become a world. And the adults understand their role beautifully. Daddy helps when Lulu asks. Mummy brings her bedtime story inside. Nobody commandeers her game or turns it into a learning opportunity. They simply respect the space Lulu has made and her right to decide what happens there. That matters because Lulu loves her new baby sister. Her desire to play alone isn't framed as jealousy or something that needs fixing. Loving somebody and sometimes needing a space of your own are allowed to coexist. Nor does solitary play become a lesson about sharing. Lulu decides when Hani can enter, when only Makeda may visit and, eventually, when the whole family is invited in for tea. The boundary belongs to her. Beardshaw fills that little hideout with colour, warmth and glorious homemade abundance. But perhaps its loveliest quality is that it remains unmistakably Lulu's creation. A warm, quietly perceptive celebration of imagination, agency and the importance of self-directed play. Because sometimes one of the greatest gifts adults can give children's play is knowing when not to improve it. – Mat Tobin, Senior Lecturer in English and Children's Literature, Oxford Brookes |
USA & Canada edition from Charlesbridge - OUT NOW
Lola’s Perfect Hideout is a fabulous and deeply resonant book that explores the universal need for a quiet sanctuary. It beautifully validates the idea that when the world becomes overwhelming, finding a small, distraction-free space to rest and imagine is not just okay—it's necessary.
The Standouts • Deeply Relatable Themes: The story perfectly captures how both children and adults feel when there is "too much" going on. It highlights the importance of retreating to a quiet space for play, drawing, or simply sitting still to recuperate. • Empowering Parenting: A standout feature is the depiction of Lola’s parents. They are supportive and non-judgmental, allowing Lola the time and space she needs on her own terms. It’s a powerful reminder to parents that children deserve the same grace to relax that we do. • Illustrations: The artwork is absolutely on point, capturing the mood of the story and the comfort of Lola's retreat perfectly. • Emotional Impact: This is more than just a story; it’s an empowering tool for children to understand their own needs and a gentle lesson for parents in empathy and patience. Final Verdict This book is a 10/10, would highly recommend! Whether your child retreats to play with Legos or dolls or just needs a moment of silence, this story will make them feel seen and understood. – Kira's Book Blog on Goodreads 
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Read what people are saying here.
To buy my books
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Please support independent bookshops and buy my books from them whever you can.
Local bookshops employ local people and pay taxes. If the title you want is not on the shelves, most bookshops can order the book for you. They can look it up on their system. Some of the titles are available in hardcover and paperback and some (for little kids) are printed on card or board. If you have the title and format you want in advance, that will speed up the process. All the details are on the Publishers' websites. |
Guess who made it on to the Essence 50 Must-Read Black Children's Books of the Past 50 Years!
Yes, it's our girl Lola! Look at what amazing company she's in! Just wow!
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Find your local bookshop here.
If you are struggling to find the books locally, you can still order from an independent bookshop in the UK here Support an independent bookshop here.
UK & Ireland: Alanna Max - their website is here.
USA & Canada: Charlesbridge - their website is here.
If you are struggling to find the books locally, you can still order from an independent bookshop in the UK here Support an independent bookshop here.
UK & Ireland: Alanna Max - their website is here.
USA & Canada: Charlesbridge - their website is here.
For my statement on Banned Books, click here.
For more background information and my attempt to understand why this little girl is banned,
click here.
For more background information and my attempt to understand why this little girl is banned,
click here.
About me...I feel lucky to have a life 100% dedicated to books -
I write and edit books for little kids and their families. I'm best known as the author of the Lulu/Lola books, though I've written over 65 picture books. 
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My mediaClick to follow me on Twitter
Click to visit my Facebook page Click to visit my Goodreads page Click to visit my Instagram page Click on the Articles tab above or here to read more about writing inclusively, or for specific pieces about my books, or for add-on activities for carers and educators. Click here for the blog. As well as writing, I'm editor-at-large for Alanna Max (see below); I have been a mentor for the Jericho Prize for the past two years; and with Creative Access numerous times in the past. |
PublishersIn the UK and Ireland, the Lulu and Zeki books are books are published by Alanna Max.
In the US and Canada, Lola and Leo books are published by Charlesbridge Publishing. The Lulu & Zeki books are also published in Denmark by Forlaget Arvids, Netherlands by School Support, Brazil by Pallas, Sweden by EPIX, and Soma, Korea by Glburri and Froebel China by ICP. My books are also published by Barefoot Books, Chicken-House/Scholastic, Little Tiger, Annick Press and O'Brien Press. |