Swapna Haddow
Londoner Swapna Haddow is the award-winning children's author of the Dave Pigeon series. She loves to write about boisterous animals that cause mayhem and is working to make sure mean cats, grizzly bears and big-hearted little rabbits find their place on the bookshelves. Friendship and humour are always at the heart of what Swapna loves to write.
Her first published book, Dave Pigeon, illustrated by Sheena Dempsey, received rave reviews and went on to win three regional awards in the UK and was shortlisted for the prestigious Sainsbury's Children's Book Award. The series is based on two pigeons who find themselves battling predators in an array of madcap scenarios, all the while proving that friendship and teamwork can defeat anything. Swapna now lives in New Zealand with her husband, son and their dog, Archie.
Books
Bad Panda
Author: Swapna Haddow Illustrator: Sheena Dempsey
Publisher: Faber & Faber
Interest age: 8-11
Reading age: 8+
If being good gets you sent to a zoo thousands of miles from home, maybe being bad will get you sent back? Anyone who’s ever been cuddled, smooshed or had their hair mussed up one too many times will empathise with Lin, who is tired of being adorable.
Bad Panda: The Cake Escape
Author: Swapna Haddow Illustrator: Sheena Dempsey
Publisher: Faber
Interest age: 6-8
Reading age: 6-8
Lin the panda must find her best friend Fu, who’s gone missing. Could a CHILD have captured him? There are many laughs to be had in this brilliantly illustrated, accessible story.
Dave Pigeon
Author: Swapna Haddow Illustrator: Sheena Dempsey
Publisher: Faber & Faber
Interest age: 6-7
Reading age: 6-7
Dave Pigeon, the brilliant pigeon mastermind, is determined to find and eat all of your biscuits. The expressive illustrations complete a perfect funny book for younger readers.
Dave Pigeon (Nuggets!)
Author: Swapna Haddow
Illustrator: Sheena Dempsey
Publisher: Faber & Faber
Interest age: 6+
Reading age: 7+
Another hilarious combination of engaging plot, silly jokes and wonderful illustrations from the Dave Pigeon team, which means that this sequel is just as good as the original.
Dave Pigeon (Racer!)
Author: Swapna Haddow Illustrator: Sheena Dempsey
Publisher: Faber & Faber
Interest age: 6-10
Reading age: 7+
The third book in the brilliantly funny Dave Pigeon series continues its light-hearted focus on friendship and the trials and tribulations younger children can face. In this instalment, Dave and Skipper have to face a too-cool-for-school gang of other animals.
Dave Pigeon (Royal Coo!)
Author: Swapna Haddow
Illustrator: Sheena Dempsey
Publisher: Faber & Faber
Interest age: 6-11
Reading age: 6+
When the Royal Pigeon, Prince Raju, agrees to swap places with Dave for the day, the last thing they expect is a royal coo! An ideal choice for younger readers to have their vocabulary stretched with an age-appropriate story, full of puns and adorable sketches.
Little Rabbit’s Big Surprise
Author: Swapna Haddow
Illustrator: Alison Friend
Publisher: Stripes Publishing
Interest age: 6-8
Reading age: 7+
Introducing a charming little rabbit character, this is an ideal story to bridge the gap between picture books and independent reading, with glossy pages and full-colour illustrations on every page.
My Dad is a Grizzly Bear
Author: Swapna Haddow
Illustrator: Dapo Adeola
Publisher: Macmillan
Interest age: 4-5
The dad in this book is very bearish - he loves honey, chases his little boy around while growling, and naps everywhere. And there's nothing like a grizzly bear hug from your dad to make you feel safe. A charming picture book celebrating all the bear-like dads out there.
My Mum is a Lioness
Author: Swapna Haddow Illustrator: Dapo Adeola
Publisher: Macmillan
Interest age: 4-5
The delightful sequel to Haddow and Adeola’s My Dad is a Grizzly Bear features a powerful, energetic mum who is very much the centre of the family, cheering on her children and loving everyone fearlessly.