Eileen Browne was born and bought up in Birmingham but lived in London for over twenty years before moving to Wiltshire in 1995. She worked as a school teacher and a youth worker before becoming as author and illustrator, her first book was published in 1977.

Eileen believes that "Certain groups of people are not well represented in books. For example, females only feature as main characters in around a third of children's books. Because of this I give them priority. Where's that Bus? was one of the first animal picture books published with all female characters." Indeed Through My Window, published in 1986, was the first ever picture book in Britain to feature a child with a black mother and white father.

Eileen has written and/or illustrated many books, probably her best known book to date is Handa's Surprise, it is also available as a Big Book. She has also written and illustrated books in collaboration with, amongst others, Kit Wright, Tony Bradman and Floella Benjamin. Through My Window, written in collaboration with Tony Bradman, was shortlisted for the 1986 Smarties Book Prize. No Problem was shortlisted for the 1994 Nottinghamshire Children's Book Award and Handa's Surprise was shortlisted for the 1995 Sheffield Children's Book Award.

Eileen's latest book to be published is the sequel to Handa's Surprise, the counting book Handa's Hen.

Eileen is also available for school visits through Jubilee Books click here to find out more about author visits.

Profile supplied by Eileen Browne