Wendy Meddour

Dr Wendy Meddour is a British author, illustrator, and academic who has published over 30 children's books. Her debut novel, A Hen in the Wardrobe, was shortlisted for the Branford Boase Award for 'Outstanding First Novel' and received the John C. Laurence Award for 'Promoting Understanding between the Races'. This book was also included in The Guardian's list of the "Best 50 Culturally Diverse Books since the 1950s".

Meddour went on to write the Wendy Quill series, published by Oxford University Press. The books, based on her own childhood, were illustrated by her daughter, Mina May, who gained media attention as one of the youngest professional illustrators in the world. The series has been licensed in over 15 countries.

Meddour's books often address complex social issues in ways that are accessible to children. In 2020, Meddour won the Margaret Wise Brown Prize for Children's Literature. Lubna and Pebble, a book about the refugee experience, was selected by TIME Magazine as one of the "10 Best Books of the Year", and Tibble and Grandpa, a story centring on grief and loss, was named the "Outstanding Winner" by the UK Literacy Association [1] and included in The Guardian's "Best New Picture Books of the Year".

Several of Meddour's books have been featured on the BBC television programme CBeebies Bedtime Stories, where they have been read by celebrities including Tom Hardy, Emily Watson, and Louis Theroux. Featured titles include The Friendship Bench, How the Library (Not the Prince) Saved Rapunzel, Tisha and the Blossom, and Peggy the Always Sorry Pigeon.

Meddour was brought up in Aberystwyth, Wales, and holds an MA and PhD in Critical and Cultural Theory. She is a Professor of English Literature and Creative Writing, taught English Literature at the University of Oxford, and is now the Director of Creative Writing at the University of Exeter.

• Meddour, Wendy. Frost and Bite at Christmas (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2026)
• Meddour, Wendy. Miguel's Big Leap (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2026)
• Meddour, Wendy. Harry and the Heron (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2025)
• Meddour, Wendy. Patrick and Flippa (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2024)
• Meddour, Wendy. Sunny and the Birds (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2024)
• Meddour, Wendy. Milly and Mr Minto's Marvellous Music (Pearson, 2024)
• Meddour, Wendy. Cleo the Completely Fine Camel (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2023)
• Meddour, Wendy. Peggy the Always Sorry Pigeon (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2022)
• Meddour, Wendy. The Friendship Bench (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2021)
• Meddour, Wendy. Tisha and the Blossom (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2020)
• Meddour, Wendy. Idris and the Big City (London: Pearson Press: 2020)
• Meddour, Wendy. Howard the Average Gecko (Oxford University Press, 2020)
• Meddour, Wendy. Not in that Dress, Princess! (London: Otter Barry Books, 2020)
• Meddour, Wendy. Tibble and Grandpa (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2019)
• Meddour, Wendy. Stefano the Squid (London: Little Tiger Press, 2019)
• Meddour, Wendy. Lubna and Pebble (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2019)
• Meddour, Wendy. The Glump and the Peeble (London: Frances Lincoln, 2017)
• Meddour, Wendy. ''Secret Railway & the Crystal Cave's (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2016)
• Meddour, Wendy. The Secret Railway (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2016)
• Meddour, Wendy. Brave Little Beasts (London: Pearson, 2016)
• Meddour, Wendy. How the Library (Not the Prince) Saved Rapunzel (London: Frances Lincoln, 2015)
• Meddour, Wendy. Dottie Blanket and the Hilltop (Cardiff: Firefly Press, 2015)
• Meddour, Wendy. Wendy Quill is Full up Of Wrong (Oxford: Oxford University Press, July 2015)
• Meddour, Wendy. Wendy Quill tries to Grow a Pet (Oxford: OUP, March 2014)
• Meddour, Wendy. Wendy Quill is a Crocodile's Bottom (Oxford: OUP, May 2013)
• Meddour, Wendy. The Black Cat Detectives (London: Frances Lincoln, 2012)
• Meddour, Wendy. A Hen in the Wardrobe (London: Frances Lincoln, 2012)