Sam McBratney author page

Sam McBratney biography

Sam McBratney was a Northern Irish author best known for his work in children’s literature. He wrote more than fifty books for children and young adults over the course of his career. McBratney studied at Trinity College Dublin and worked as a teacher before becoming a full-time writer.

His most widely recognised book is Guess How Much I Love You, illustrated by Anita Jeram and first published by Walker Books in 1994. The story features the characters Little Nutbrown Hare and Big Nutbrown Hare, and has become a classic in picture book literature. McBratney also wrote several other books for children, including Just You and Me and There, There, both also illustrated by Anita Jeram and published by Walker Books.

In addition to picture books, McBratney wrote novels for older children and young adults. His writing is noted for its gentle humour and focus on family relationships. Over his career, McBratney collaborated with a range of illustrators and publishers, with his work being published primarily by Walker Books.

In 2020, Walker Books published Will You Be My Friend?, a companion to Guess How Much I Love You, again illustrated by Anita Jeram.