Your Favourite Children’s Authors Join Team Banjo!

We are REALLY excited to officially announce that best selling children’s authors, Anna Kemp and Sylvia Bishop, are the new voices behind your child’s beloved cat pal Banjo! With only one week to go until World Book Day, we think that it’s a fitting time to announce that Banjo will be receiving a little letter-writing help from best selling children’s authors: Anna Kemp and Sylvia Bishop.

Recognise their names? You’ll certainly recognise their children’s stories. Read on to find out more about the masterpieces that they have penned to date and how they feel about joining Banjo on his globetrotting, galavanting adventures!

Anna Kemp

Hello Banjitos and Banjitas,

I have written picture books about dogs (Dogs don’t do Ballet), frogs (Sir Lilypad), rebel royals (The Worst Princess), and monsters (Dave, the Lonely Monster) but so far no cats! So, I am thrilled to have the chance to get prowling and yowling by joining Team Banjo.

I’m not allowed to have a cat of my own – too many sneezers in my house – but if I did, I’d want one that shared my love of travel, languages, stories, and, of course, stickers. I’d want a cat just like Banjo. Wouldn’t you?

Miaow for now,

Anna

Anna Kemp is a best-selling children’s author writing picture books and middle-grade fiction. Her books have been nominated for a number of prizes including the Booktrust Early Years Award (2010); The Roald Dahl Funny Prize (2010, 2012); The Waterstones Children’s Book Prize (2011, 2013); Oscar’s Book Prize (2015), and The Dundee Picture Book Award (2019).

Her work has also been adapted for television (Bookaboo, CBeebies); puppetry (Little Angel); dance (Ballet Black); orchestra (LSO) and theatre (New Writing North, Little Blue Monster). She is currently working on new picture books and a middle-grade fantasy series.

Sylvia Bishop

Hi Banjo fans!

I’m Sylvia Bishop, and I write children’s fiction of all shapes and sizes. I’m thrilled to be joining Banjo on his adventures. I had five cats of my own growing up, all lovable eccentrics, and I’m sure my long-suffering parents will be pleased to learn that I am putting this intensive cat education to good use.

I’ve written about globe-trotting adventures (The Secret of the Night Train), characterful animals (Erica’s Elephant) and the joy of sharing stories from our lives (A Sea of Stories). I’m excited to mix all three together with this globe-trotting cat!

Until next time,

Sylvia

Sylvia Bishop writes junior fiction for children of all ages. Her books have been translated into 15 languages and published around the world. When she is not writing (or reading), she performs comedy, and knits disastrous jumpers.

Take a look at Sylvia’s other work…

The Bookshop Girl– A small girl is abandoned in a bookshop, so the owners adopt her. But she is keeping an enormous secret – she can’t read! When they win the famous Montgomery Book Emporium in a raffle, all is not as it seems. Can she save her family, and keep her secret?

Erica’s Elephant – Erica lives with her Uncle, but he’s been away on a bird-watching expedition for years now. When he sends her an elephant for her birthday, Erica finally has a friend. But will her friend be allowed to stay? And has she truly been alone – or has someone else been looking out for her?

A Sea of Stories – When Roo goes to stay with her Grandpa, she loves to hear the stories of his life, his friends, and her Grandma. But all his stories take place on a cove which he can no longer visit. Can she and his friends help change that? A touching story about the importance of sharing stories (colour illustrated).