Petr Horacek
I grew up in Prague in the Czech Republic. Just outside our flat there was a wood where I spent lots of time playing with friends. We would climb on piles of soil or build bunkers from forgotten builder's materials. I always wanted to be an illustrator, but I preferred to look at the pictures inside the books rather than to read them. I would listen to the story or watch a film and then fill up my sketchbook with pictures and images from the story. I started to read books quite late, but I haven't stopped since.
Books
A First Book of Animals
Author: Nicola Davies
Illustrator: Petr Horacek
Publisher: Walker Books
Interest age: 4+
Reading age: 6+
A wide range of animals are depicted and celebrated in this lovely, colourful hardback - from polar bears to flamingos, fireflies to nightingales. Each double page spread features a full illustration and a short poem
A Surprise for Tiny Mouse
Author: Petr Horacek
Publisher: Baby Walker
Interest age: 0+
Reading age: 4+
Expore different types of weather and turn the wheel for a surprise!
Blue Penguin
Author: Petr Horacek
Publisher: Walker Books
Interest age: 3-7
Reading age: 6+
Blue Penguin wants to belong. But how does he convince the other penguins that he is just like them? A touching story about friendship and fitting in.
Jonathan and Martha
Author: Petr Horacek
Publisher: Phaidon
Interest age: 0+
Reading age: 6+
Jonathan and Martha are two lonely worms who meet when a juicy pear falls to the ground.
Puffin Peter
Author: Petr Horacek
Publisher: Walker Books
Interest age: 3+
Reading age: 5+
Peter and Paul are the best of friends, until one day while they are diving for fish, Peter is caught in a storm and swept out to sea alone. Thankfully, a kind blue whale is on hand to help him find his friend again - the only problem is that Peter has forgotten to tell him that Paul is a puffin, just like him.
Silly Suzy Goose
Author: Petr Horacek
Publisher: Walker Books
Interest age: 0+
Reading age: 5+
A delightful collection of action-filled pages; the illustrations fit the text perfectly and will greatly entertain young readers, while introducing new vocabulary for actions and sounds.
Suzy Goose and the Christmas Star
Author: Petr Horacek
Publisher: Walker Books
Interest age: 3+
Reading age: 4+
As Suzy and her friends prepare the tree on Christmas Eve, Suzy notices something missing and sets off in search of a Christmas Star to complete the decorations.
The Fly
Author: Petr Horacek
Publisher: Walker Books
Interest age: 3+
Reading age: 7+
Energetic illustrations and some lift-the-flap sections add interest as the humble housefly buzzes through this lively book
The Mouse Who Ate the Moon
Author: Petr Horacek
Publisher: Walker Books
Interest age: 3-6
Reading age: 7+
This peep-through story book has beautiful illustrations which are brought to life with the peep-through hole on each page. An endearing and funny story with friendship at its heart.
The Mouse Who Reached the Sky
Author: Petr Horacek
Publisher: Walker Books
Interest age: 3+
Reading age: 6+
A simple tale of friendship and cooperation between animals, beautifully illustrated in Horáček's distinctive style.
Who is Sleeping?
Author: Petr Horáček
Publisher: Walker Books
Interest age: 0-3
Reading age: 5+
Petr Horáček’s friendly and colourful nature illustrations are showcased in this simple and effective lift-the-flap book, with sturdy pages that are perfect for curious little hands.