Holly Webb

About Author

Author Holly Webb has just written the 60th book in her best-selling Animal Stories series, The Bold Kitten, and also writes time-slip novels, magical stories and the Museum Kittens series.

Holly worked as an editor at Scholastic Children's Books before becoming a full time writer. She has now written more than 130 books for children. Many of her books are aimed at younger readers and involve animals. Sales of her Animal Stories books alone (published by Little Tiger Press) are now well over 1 million copies. She has three children and lives in Berkshire.

Listen to our ReadingZone Podcast with Holly Webb

Interview

Celebrating Holly Webb's 60th Animal Stories adventure!

The Bold Kitten (Little Tiger)

January 2025

Holly Webb's stories about animals and pets have helped turn thousands of children around the world into readers. The Bold Kitten, which has just been published by Little Tiger, is her 60th Animal Stories book. We wanted to catch up with Holly to find out what brought her into writing about animals, and how she hopes her books will help inspire children to love and look after their own pets - as well as encouraging young writers themselves.

Holly Webb tells ReadingZone why she loves writing her Animal Stories series

"I hope that children will read them and feel that it's vital that they respect animals' needs,
as well as loving them."

1. Thank you for joining us on ReadingZone! Can you start by telling us what you most enjoy in writing stories about animals and the children who care for them?

I love writing from two points of view - the animals and the children. It's really interesting wondering how cats and dogs would feel about us, and the way we treat them!

2. What does it feel like to have written your 60th Animal Story, The Bold Kitten?

It's wonderful, and unbelievable at the same time. I wrote the first book the same year that my 18 year old twins were born... It feels a huge privilege still to be writing this series. I have to admit that I love looking at my shelf full of them!

3. Why do you think this series has such appeal for your readers? Do you think that seeing the world from the animal's perspective, as well as the child, is part of that?

I think it's a huge part of it - as a child, being able to talk to animals was always my dream superpower (it still would be!) I also feel that it's incredibly important to encourage children to have empathy, and hopefully these books can be a tiny part of that.

4. Do you hear from parents and children about how these books have changed a child's reading habits?

I do, and it's so special. I'm often told by parents (and children at events or in letters) that my books are the first "proper books" that children have read by themselves, and it makes me very happy.

5. What happens in The Bold Kitten? Why did you decide to explore the experience of a young girl from Syria and her family coming to the UK as refugees for this book?

Hana and her family come to stay with Oscar and his parents. It's obviously a huge change for all of the characters, and Hana and her little brother bond closely with Oscar, and the stray kittens who've arrived in the house too. Hana particularly loves one kitten, Amal, but then she discovers that the kittens will be rehomed, and it feels like a terrible betrayal.

I've always loved the sense of finding your own place - your special home - in these stories. In many of the books the child characters have been finding something too, peace or acceptance or confidence in themselves. This book goes just a little further as Hana and Amal are more directly searching for home together. I loved writing it, and it feels very timely.

6. What other kinds of families and situations do you cover in the series? What do you hope your young readers will take from these stories?

I'm really trying to make these stories as accessible as I can - to make everyone feel that they can belong in the world of the series. I hope that children will read them and feel that it's vital that they respect animals' needs as well as loving them.

7. Do you ever draw on your own pets and experiences with animals for this series? Can you tell us a little about them?

Constantly! My three cats, Milly, Poppy and Star have all inspired several books, and the very first book, Lost in the Snow, was inspired by the stray cat I grew up with, Rosie. My mum and I used to make up stories about the adventures she'd had before she walked into my dad's office. He found her sitting on his chair! I was also lucky enough to have two very badly behaved but beautiful dogs. I have a lot of embarrassing dog adventures...

8. Can you give us any tips for children in writing about pets they have, or would like to have, and writing engaging stories about them?

I love it that my stories inspire children to write their own animal stories! My tips would be to imagine that you're reading your own story - what do you love about it? Is there anything missing? Can you think of anything that would make your reader really love the animal you're writing about? What about something that would worry them for part of the story - but please give your animal hero a happy ending!

9. How do the illustrations by Sophy Williams help to bring the stories to life? What is it like seeing her illustrations for the first time for each book?

Having my stories illustrated is one of the best parts of being an author. I absolutely love Sophy's covers and illustrations, and it's such a treat to see them every time. She's been a massive part of the books' success!

10. Do you have other stories planned for Animal Stories? What else are you writing currently?

Yes, I have several more stories planned already. Luckily my pets and my friends' pets keep doing silly things to help me find new stories. I'm also working on a very exciting and secret and slightly magical new series!

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