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WORK TITLE: Ned and the Great Garden Hamster Race
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WEBSITE: https://kimhillyard.com/
CITY: London
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COUNTRY: United Kingdom
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PERSONAL
Born in Totton, England; children: two.
EDUCATION:University of Exeter, graduated.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer and illustrator. Previously, worked as a music journalist.
AWARDS:Sainsbury’s Children’s Book Prize, 2020, for Mabel and the Mountain; Best Illustrated Book, Waterstones Children’s Book Prize, 2023, for Gretel the Wonder Mammoth.
WRITINGS
Contributor to publications, including NME and Time Out London.
SIDELIGHTS
Kim Hillyard is a writer and illustrator based in London, England. After earning a degree from the University of Exeter, Hillyard worked as a music journalist before becoming a children’s book writer and illustrator.
In 2022, she released her first book, Gretel the Wonder Mammoth. It finds the titular character trapped in ice. She determines to break out of the ice, but when she does, she realizes that mammoths have long been extinct, making her the only one of her kind in the world. In an interview with a contributor to the In Common website, Hillyard explained how she became inspired to write the book, stating: “I read research around anxiety which showed that it usually involves a feeling of being ‘stuck’ and can make the world feel unsettling and unfamiliar. As a new mother the world also seemed ‘new’ to me, so I started thinking about that and also about how to convey being stuck and found that I’d drawn a frog in an ice cube. The ideas flowed from there and Gretel was ‘born.'”
Mabel and the Mountain stars a small fly with three distinct goals. She wants to befriend a shark, host a dinner party, and climb a mountain. Though she contends with self-doubt and skepticism from outsiders, Mabel works toward her goal of climbing a mountain and finally reaches the top. “Featuring a protagonist who brims with grit and determination, Hillyard’s tale is affirming,” asserted a writer in Kirkus Reviews. Rachel Zuffa, reviewer in School Library Journal, commented: “This is an excellent story about belief and resilience.”
In an interview with a contributor to the City Kids website, Hillyard discussed her next book, Ned and the Great Garden Hamster Race. She stated: “I like writing stories that start conversations about how we feel. Ned and The Great Garden Hamster Race is a story about kindness. It stars a little hamster called Ned who is desperate to win The Great Garden Hamster Race. Along the way he runs past various creatures who need his help. Will he turn back or will he keep running and stay in first place?” Ned receives an unexpected act of kindness from another character, which inspires him to be kind himself. He decides to turn back to help the others. When he is finally finished, he discovers that the hamsters have all waited for him to cross the finish line with them together, making them all winners. A Kirkus Reviews critic described the book as “a feel-good tale” and “a sweetly simple story.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Kirkus Reviews, December 1, 2023, review of Mabel and the Mountain; May 15, 2024, review of Ned and the Great Garden Hamster Race.
School Library Journal, February, 2024, Rachel Zuffa, review of Mabel and the Mountain, p. 80.
ONLINE
City Kids, https://www.citykidsmagazine.co.uk/ (March 16, 2022), author interview.
In Common, https://www.in-common.co.uk/ (August 11, 2023), Carolyn Thomas, author interview.
Kim Hillyard website, https://kimhillyard.com/ (December 17, 2024).
Hello! I’m Kim. I write stories and draw pictures and make picture books!
My debut picture book Mabel and the Mountain won the Sainsbury’s Children’s Book Prize 2020 and my third book, Gretel the Wonder Mammoth, won Best Illustrated Book at the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize 2023. My fourth picture book, Flora & Nora Hunt for Treasure was shortlisted for the Teach Early Years Awards 2023.
My fifth book, Frida the Rock-and-Roll Moth was published in May 2024. All my books to date have been published by Ladybird Books at Penguin Random House, find out more here
I live in London with two small children and two very fluffy cats. I’m a self-taught illustrator and prior to making picture books I worked as a music journalist for nearly 10 years.
I love meeting young people and finding ways to be more creative and am always very excited to visit schools / community spaces / festivals / fun places to share my books and artwork.
I’m rep’d by Jodie Hodges at United Agents: jhodges@unitedagents.co.uk
Thanks for stopping by!
Kim x
QUOTED: "I like writing stories that start conversations about how we feel. Ned and The Great Garden Hamster Race is a story about kindness. It stars a little hamster called Ned who is desperate to win The Great Garden Hamster Race. Along the way he runs past various creatures who need his help. Will he turn back or will he keep running and stay in first place?"
City Kids Meets Kim Hillyard
Books & Podcasts, Education, Lifestyle, Parenting
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The author of Gretel the Wonder Mammoth, Kim Hillyard, talks life, writing for children and tips for encouraging enthusiastic readers
How did you get the idea for Gretel the Wonder Mammoth?
I knew I wanted to write a story about anxiety, what it is, how it can make you feel and what you can do if you or someone you love experiences it. Anxiety is a lot more than just feeling sad or worried, it changes how you see yourself and the world around you. I wanted to convey the idea of feeling trapped. I drew a little frog stuck inside an ice cube in my sketchbook. I loved the image but felt it wasn’t strong enough for a whole book but it did lead me to the idea of a Woolly Mammoth trapped in ice. When Gretel breaks free she’s excited to be back but she soon finds out she’s the only mammoth left on earth!
It’s your third book, what can people expect from Ned and The Great Garden Hamster Race and Mabel and The Mountain?
I like writing stories that start conversations about how we feel. Ned and The Great Garden Hamster Race is a story about kindness. It stars a little hamster called Ned who is desperate to win The Great Garden Hamster Race. Along the way he runs past various creatures who need his help. Will he turn back or will he keep running and stay in first place?
Mabel and the Mountain is a story about self-belief and stars Mabel the fly. She dreams of climbing a mountain, despite what her friends might think. Along the way she meets climbers who are stronger than her and faster than her but she keeps going, taking one tiny step after another. Both stories also have lots of silliness! You’ll find hamsters wearing capes and flies with electric guitars. I hope you enjoy them!
What do you have to consider when writing for children?
I try and find a balance between lots of fun and silliness and an important message, like talking to someone if you feel upset or anxious.
Do you think you might explore writing for older kids?
I’d love to! I still have my teenage diary, which is one of my most prized possessions. Reading it takes me right back to the muddle of emotions I felt at that time, plus all the ridiculous mini dramas me and my friends found ourselves in. I’ve always wanted to use it as inspiration for a book.
How did you get into writing story books?
I’ve been writing stories and drawing since I was small. When I left Uni I worked as a music journalist for ten years. Towards the end I started to focus more seriously on my stories. It took me two years of writing and teaching myself how to illustrate before signing with Ladybird Books in 2018.
Which were your favourite books when you were little?
I loved The Jolly Postman by Janet and Allan Ahlberg. I remember waiting desperately for someone to return their copy to our Primary School library then racing to pick it up at break time! I also loved the strange, sticky illustrations for Fungus The Bogeyman by Raymond Briggs, a whole fantasy world created in green, incredible!
Which current children’s authors and/or illustrators do you most admire?
There’s so many! I love Beatrice Alemagna, her illustrations have so much texture and style, I adore her book On A Magical Do-Nothing Day. I also love Jarvis! His book Alan’s Big Scary Teeth is a favourite in our house.
Who are your greatest literary influences?
I’ve always loved Michael Rosen. Both as a child for his brilliant stories and poems – I can still remember the first time I heard his poem ‘Chocolate Cake’, the suspense! But also as an adult. I love the way he works with young people and encourages them to write by “talking with your pen.”
Can you explain how important reading is for children?
Reading helps us understand ourselves and the world around us. Once a child can read it’s our job to make sure they have access to as many books as possible. When you read you feel you are never alone.
How would you encourage less enthusiastic readers to read, particularly as they get older with more distractions?
I think we often get caught up with what we think children should be reading at a certain age or stage, but reading shouldn’t be an effort. There’s so much fun to be had! I think that’s the best starting point for any reluctant reader. Comics, graphic novels and magazines all count, of course. Picture books too, they aren’t just for smaller children! There’s a book out there for everyone. Ask your librarian or bookseller to guide you in the right direction if you’re not sure, they’re there to help!
What are you working on now? Any top secret intel?!
I’ve just finished illustrating my fourth picture book which will be out in 2023 – so quite a wait! Right now I’m in the very early planning stages for my fifth book, with lots of ideas whizzing around. I’ve also been writing lots of poems!
penguinrandomhouse.com
QUOTED: "I read research around anxiety which showed that it usually involves a feeling of being ‘stuck’ and can make the world feel unsettling and unfamiliar. As a new mother the world also seemed 'new' to me, so I started thinking about that and also about how to convey being stuck and found that I’d drawn a frog in an ice cube. The ideas flowed from there and Gretel was 'born.'"
Under the Covers – August: Meet prize-winning Totton-born author/illustrator Kim Hillyard
Published on August 11, 2023
By books editor Carolyn Thomas. Images by Jasmine Joynson.
In just a few years Totton-born children’s author and illustrator Kim Hillyard has cornered the market in life-enhancing stories featuring quirky animal heroes.
So far she’s featured a fly, a hamster, and a mammoth in her beautifully illustrated stories for children under five. Her first three inspirational tales have tackled issues around self-belief, kindness, and courage, while her latest, Flora and Nora Hunt for Treasure, is about the power of friendship.
‘It’s never too early to share positive messages with young children’, Kim, who is the mother of two under-fives herself, told In Common. ‘Even toddlers can carry heavy emotions, such as anxiety, and I believe it’s important to start those conversations around mental health as early as possible.’
Currently living in Wimbledon, Kim was born and brought up in Totton, in the New Forest, and she still has close family and friends in the area. She went to Testwood Sports College (now Testwood School) and Barton Peveril Sixth Form College and was a keen member of Hampshire Youth Theatre through which she performed at The Nuffield and The Point in Eastleigh. ‘I think that’s where my love of storytelling first developed,’ she said.
Next came a degree in drama at the University of Exeter, after which she moved to Southampton where she ran drama clubs and workshops at several schools across the city. By this time she had also begun to enjoy writing and music and became a regular at live venues including The Joiners where her brother was a DJ.
When she was offered a job combining those passions, on music site I Like Music, she moved to London to take up the opportunity. This led to a nine-year career as a music journalist for publications including NME and Time Out and also work for the BBC. Throughout all her time in London, she has made regular visits home, not least of course to visit her mother who ran a flower shop in Shirley. Some In Common readers might also remember Kim’s grandfather who performed throughout Hampshire and the surrounding areas as clown ‘Sammy Sunshine’ throughout the 1990s.
‘I think my grandad inspired some of my books through his ability to entertain children and by creating magic through his performances at places such as Bournemouth Gardens,’ said Kim.
Once settled in Wimbledon with her young family, Kim felt drawn back to storytelling and began to write and doodle around various themes. Before long she had an illustrated book to her name. ‘In the end I wrote the story in one fell swoop, then illustrated it and taught myself the technical side of scanning and photoshopping my work.’
This debut book Mabel and the Mountain, starring a small fly with big plans, went on to win the Sainsbury’s Children’s Book Award 2020 for Best Picture Book. Brave and determined, Mabel shows young children that even if they sometimes feel insecure or unsure they can actually go on to do anything. ‘Young children can feel very small and sometimes helpless so I tried to think of something very small they could identify with and came up with a fly,’ said Kim. ‘Despite her tiny size, Mabel’s self-belief helps her to win the day’.
The follow up book Ned and the Great Garden Hamster Race is a story about kindness. Next came the tale of Gretel the Wonder Mammoth, which encourages children to embrace their feelings as they follow Gretel’s attempts to overcome anxiety and loneliness as she returns to the world after a long sleep in the ice. This book won the Illustrated Books category of the prestigious Waterstones Children’s Book Prize 2023.
‘Anxiety can be incredibly isolating. Gretel discovers the bravest thing she can do is ask for help and I hope this book encourages all of us to do the same,’ said Kim.
While Kim’s themes are universal, her central characters are less mainstream. ‘I think I made these unusual choices around my lead characters simply because they each best served my narrative purpose,’ Kim said. ‘Thinking of a hamster on a wheel, busy being busy – but too busy to be kind? That idea gave me Ned.
‘Then I read research around anxiety which showed that it usually involves a feeling of being ‘stuck’ and can make the world feel unsettling and unfamiliar. As a new mother the world also seemed ‘new’ to me, so I started thinking about that and also about how to convey being stuck and found that I’d drawn a frog in an ice cube. The ideas flowed from there and Gretel was ‘born’.
‘And of course the fact that flies and hamsters and woolly mammoths have not really been featured in books before has also been a good thing and helped awareness of my work.’
Her latest book, however, features rather more usual picture-book characters in the shape of two cats called Flora and Nora who are best friends. ‘ We are a family of cat lovers so they were always going to pop up at some point,’ said Kim. ‘But it’s less usual to see two adventurous female lead characters and an exploration of the true value of friendship.’
The story Flora and Nora Hunt for Treasure features two courageous, sea-faring cats who get separated when their ship capsizes during a storm while they are off searching for secret treasure. There are plenty of books featuring friends, so Kim knew that she had to find a new angle for Flora and Nora. She took the opportunity to stress the importance of their friendship and to remind her young readers that while relationships with friends can sometimes be taken for granted, they should actually be treasured as amongst the most supportive of our lives. Flora and Nora learn important lessons from each other which help them reunite and to conclude that their friendship is better than any amount of gold coins and jewels. It’s a nice touch that the book is dedicated to her own best friend Rosie.
Kim packs her detailed, hand-painted illustrations with glorious features such as a scratching post on the cats’ ship.
‘I find painting my illustrations very mindful and relaxing’, says Kim, while acknowledging that she fits her work around her children and is often to be found at her desk in the evenings when they are asleep. From the hand-painting, to scanning and photoshopping, each book takes about six months to complete, although the actual stories usually come more quickly before that.
Already working on her fifth book, Kim is also overseeing the re-working of Mabel and the Mountain as a board book suitable for babies to enjoy.
Her own memories of childhood reading include favourites The Jolly Postman by Janet and Allan Ahlberg and Dogga by Shirley Hughes, which she recommends to this day.
‘But my absolute favourite author was Michael Rosen, and his poem Chocolate Cake was a real favourite,’ said Kim. ‘This inspired me to try and write my own poems, which my mum still has somewhere.
‘There are similarities between poetry and picture books text in that you need to say a lot in a limited number of words. And I often read poems as inspirations for illustrations.
‘As a summer holiday activity why not find a short poem which can inspire lots of other activities – not least why not try illustrating it!?’
For more information on Kim see her website Kim Hillyard.
Reflections on friendship
Coincidentally author and broadcaster Elizabeth Day wrote a book about friendship which was published earlier this year and is a great summer read for adults.
Friendaholic: Confessions of a Friendship Addict is a candid and perceptive investigation into the nature of friendship. Some friendships are for life, others for a season and Elizabeth Day explores all manner of them including the challenge of making friends and the drama and difficulty around ever dropping them – even if the friendship has become toxic. She wrote the book after the Covid-19 lockdowns made her reassess her own need for companionship. She mixes her personal experiences into some exploration of the scant research into this area. One fact that stayed with me is that apparently four to five is the idea number of close friends. It’s hard to put the effort into maintaining more friendships than that.
It’s a thought-provoking read which I heartily recommend.
QUOTED: "a feel-good tale" "a sweetly simple story."
Hillyard, Kim NED AND THE GREAT GARDEN HAMSTER RACE Penguin Workshop (Children's None) $14.99 7, 2 ISBN: 9780593659045
A young hamster is too focused on winning to stop and help others in need, until a mishap of his own teaches him that kindness matters more than speed.
Ned has been training hard for the Great Garden Hamster Race. Hamsters have gathered from around the globe, and though many of them look speedy, Ned is determined to win. Nothing will slow him down--not even encounters with a lost slug, hungry pigeons, and a rabbit trapped in a hole. But soon, Ned needs some help himself. When a passing fox treats him with unexpected kindness, Ned realizes that caring for others is more important than winning. He retraces his steps to help the other animals in distress. Long after dark, Ned is still running the race, but the end is in sight. He finds the other hamsters waiting for him so they can all cross the finish line together. The turning point focuses primarily on Ned's actions rather than his thoughts or emotions; because the book doesn't explore the motivation behind his change of heart, the message feels somewhat diminished. Still, it's a feel-good tale, and the illustrations, painted in chunky brushstrokes with handwritten speech bubbles, brim with stylistic appeal.
A sweetly simple story with a straightforward, if somewhat superficial, message of altruism. (Picture book. 3-7)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
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"Hillyard, Kim: NED AND THE GREAT GARDEN HAMSTER RACE." Kirkus Reviews, 15 May 2024, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A793536986/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=74f43e7e. Accessed 23 Oct. 2024.
QUOTED: "Featuring a protagonist who brims with grit and determination, Hillyard's tale is affirming."
Hillyard, Kim MABEL AND THE MOUNTAIN Penguin Workshop (Children's None) $14.99 1, 30 ISBN: 9780593659021
A roly-poly fly accomplishes a very large goal.
Mabel, a tiny speck who looks like a pea with wings, has an ambitious list of "BIG PLANS." On this list are three important aspirations: "1. Climb a MOUNTAIN; 2. Host a dinner party; 3. Make friends with a shark." Mabel's skeptical friends scoff and tell her it can't be done; after all, "flies do not climb. They fly!" But that just makes Mabel even more determined. Rendered in large black letters against a cheery yellow backdrop, the message shines bright: "LISTEN TO THOSE WHO SAY YOU CAN." Mabel also pipes up with a confident "I can do it!" Then, after scaling less daunting climbs (a large nose, a wobbly plate of Jell-O), Mabel finds a worthy challenge--a tall, looming mountain. It's a thorny journey; Mabel has doubts. She considers changing her goal to "Climb a TREE," but she perseveres. In this original take on The Little Engine That Could, Mabel reaches the top! Featuring a protagonist who brims with grit and determination, Hillyard's tale is affirming. Humor balances out all possible platitudes, and Mabel, the rotund little hero with a tiny rucksack and hat, is a delight. Readers can't help but cheer her on.
Small but mighty. (Picture book. 3-6)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2023 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
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"Hillyard, Kim: MABEL AND THE MOUNTAIN." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Dec. 2023, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A774415041/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=6384a3c4. Accessed 23 Oct. 2024.
QUOTED: "This is an excellent story about belief and resilience."
HILLYARD, Kim. Mabel and the Mountain: A Story About Believing in Yourself. illus. by Kim Hillyard. 32p. Penguin Workshop. Jan. 2024. Tr $14.99. ISBN 9780593659021.
PreS-K--Mabel is a small fly with big dreams in this richly illustrative work about believing in oneself. Mabel's big dreams are to climb a mountain, host a dinner party, and make friends with a shark. Cheerfully disconnected goals aside, Mabel has family and friends who cast doubts on whether a small fly can do any of these things, and Mabel's first goal of climbing a mountain dominates most of the story. Mabel displays resilience and determination and works hard. She worries about her goal, and there are others who seem better suited, but Mabel is ultimately successful. Hillyard masterfully illustrates Mabel's emotions. Her use of fine pen lines and paint glow around Mabel as she doubts herself on the mountain climb. Yet the next spread opens to a relief from the darkness, with the moon and a shooting star. Textured ground softens the hardness of Mabel's fear and a small voice reminds her to "keep going." When Mabel returns to host her dinner party, her friends and family are excited with ideas and challenges because she has shown them that the smallest of flies can accomplish big dreams. VERDICT A first purchase for all libraries serving young children, this is an excellent story about belief and resilience. --Rachel Zuffa
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/
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Zuffa, Rachel. "HILLYARD, Kim. Mabel and the Mountain: A Story About Believing in Yourself." School Library Journal, vol. 70, no. 2, Feb. 2024, pp. 80+. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A784714335/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=e53fdeb9. Accessed 23 Oct. 2024.