Nicola Davies
Nicola Davies is the author of more than 50 books for children: fiction, non-fiction and poetry. Her work has been published in more than 10 different languages and has won major awards in the UK, US, France, Italy and Germany.
Nicola trained as a zoologist, taking a degree in Natural Sciences from King's College, Cambridge. She spent some years as a field biologist and studied humpback and sperm whales, and bats, before joining the BBC Natural History Unit as a researcher and then presenter.
Following the start of her writing career, Nicola became a senior lecturer in creative writing, at Bath Spa University but has been writing full time for over a decade. She now regularly runs workshops for children and adults to help them find their voices as writers and advocates for nature. In 2017, she was the first recipient of the SLA’s award for Outstanding Contribution to Children’s Non-fiction and in 2018 had four picture books longlisted for the Greenaway Award.
Find out what Nicola Davies is up to as our Writer in Residence
Books
Animal Surprises
Author: Nicola Davies Illustrator: Abbie Cameron
Publisher: GRAFFEG
Interest age: 3-6
Reading age: 5+
A simple illustrated nature picture book featuring a catchy rhyming refrain, Animal Surprises introduces a variety of animals to young readers in a friendly manner with a good level of text to illustration.
Flying Free
Author: Nicola Davies Illustrator: Cathy Fisher
Publisher: Graffeg
Interest age: 7-11
Reading age: 8+
When Colin shoots a sparrowhawk, he knows that he’s done something wrong and takes the hawk to the vet. Soon, Colin finds a passion for wildlife he never knew he had. Anyone reading Flying Free will want to rescue their own hawk...
I (Don't) Like Snakes
Author: Nicola Davies
Illustrator: Luciano Lozano
Publisher: Walker Books
Interest age: 5+
Reading age: 6+
This is an unusual and amusing tale about a girl who doesn't share her family's enthusiasm for snakes. However, as they tell her more about the incredible reptiles, she has a change of heart.
Ice Bear
Author: Nicola Davies Illustrator: Gary Blythe
Publisher: Walker Books
Interest age: 4+
Reading age: 6+
Facts about polar bears are woven alongside the lyrical text in this sumptuously illustrated picture book.
Just Ducks
Author: Nicola Davies
Illustrator: Salvatore Rubbino
Publisher: Walker Books
Interest age: 3+
Reading age: 6+
Every morning when she wakes up, a little girl hears the ducks quack down on the river that flows through the town.
Poo: A Natural History of the Unmentionable
Author: Nicola Davies
Illustrator: Neal Layton
Publisher: Walker Books
Interest age: 6-9
Reading age: 7+
This funny non-fiction picture book for older readers is packed full of fascinating facts about poo and enthusiastically explains why this natural waste product is one of the most useful things on earth.
Rubbish Town Hero
Author: Nicola Davies
Publisher: Corgi Children's
Interest age: 8+
Reading age: 8+
This is an absorbing, powerful and ultimately uplifting story about children living on their wits in a harsh environment, searching for the love and security a real family can give them
The Lion Who Stole My Arm
Author: Nicola Davies
Illustrator: Annabel Wright
Publisher: Walker Books
Interest age: 7-11
Reading age: 7-9
When a lion attacks Pedru and bites off his arm, he vows to find the lion and kill him. But as he learns more about these formidable creatures, he realises strength and courage come in different forms. An uplifting story in the excellent Heroes of the Wild series.
The Word Bird
Author: Nicola Davies Illustrator: Abbie Cameron
Publisher: Graffeg
Interest age: 3-6
Reading age: 5-7
Davies and Cameron ably depict the sheer variety of the feathered world accessibly for little ones, conveying a sense of wonder and joy. There's a fun little puzzle at the end, too!
White Owl Barn Owl
Author: Nicola Davies Illustrator: Michael Foreman
Publisher: Walker Books
Interest age: 5+
Reading age: 7+
Davies cocoons the factual information within an inter-generational first-person narrative of a girl and her grandfather building an owl nest-box.