Helen Hancocks

Helen is an author-illustrator based in Lincoln, England. Her first picture book ‘Penguin in Peril’ was the UK’s best-selling debut picture book of 2013, and she has been delighting readers with her vibrant & witty work ever since. Her work often features cats and cake two of her favourite things. She is also the founder of the picture book shop Shelf Editions & picture book review magazine SHELF.

Helen founded Shelf & Shelf Editions in 2024 as a love letter to the art of the picture book and to broaden the coverage they receive. Through its pages they hope to shine a spotlight on authors, illustrators, the industry and the market as a whole as well as treating picture books as an art form deserving of criticism and focus.

Photo by Steven Haddock