Image 1 of 1
Simon Philip
Represented By: Sallyanne Sweeney
Simon was born in Chichester in 1988 and has lived there ever since, although he occasionally leaves to buy milk.
After gaining a 1st class degree in History at Exeter University, he immediately put his skills to good use working as a barman at a local pub. He soon grew tired of the owner calling him Andy, and so, naturally, decided to become a primary school teacher. Teaching rekindled his love of children’s literature, particularly picture books, so much so that he had a go at writing his own. Deciding he was better at writing stories for children than he would ever be at teaching them, he made a swift exit from education to live the cliché of the writer who works in a bar. He hopes that one day he’ll be able to give up writing stories and become a barman full-time.
Simon’s first picture book, YOU MUST BRING A HAT (Simon & Schuster Children’s Books), won ‘book of the year’ at the 2016 Sainsbury Children’s Book Awards and was read by Tom Hardy on CBeebies Bedtime Stories. I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO CALL MY CAT (Simon & Schuster Children’s Books) and I REALLY WANT THE CAKE (Templar) were published in 2017.
Represented By: Sallyanne Sweeney
Simon was born in Chichester in 1988 and has lived there ever since, although he occasionally leaves to buy milk.
After gaining a 1st class degree in History at Exeter University, he immediately put his skills to good use working as a barman at a local pub. He soon grew tired of the owner calling him Andy, and so, naturally, decided to become a primary school teacher. Teaching rekindled his love of children’s literature, particularly picture books, so much so that he had a go at writing his own. Deciding he was better at writing stories for children than he would ever be at teaching them, he made a swift exit from education to live the cliché of the writer who works in a bar. He hopes that one day he’ll be able to give up writing stories and become a barman full-time.
Simon’s first picture book, YOU MUST BRING A HAT (Simon & Schuster Children’s Books), won ‘book of the year’ at the 2016 Sainsbury Children’s Book Awards and was read by Tom Hardy on CBeebies Bedtime Stories. I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO CALL MY CAT (Simon & Schuster Children’s Books) and I REALLY WANT THE CAKE (Templar) were published in 2017.
Published Works
Author: Simon Philip
Genres: Children’s
From Waterstones Children’s Book Prize shortlisted duo, Simon Philip and Lucia Gaggiotti, comes a Christmas caper with the beloved heroine of the I Really Want series.
It’s Christmas time again! Hooray!
But when I hear my parents say,
“There’s just SO much to do!” each day,
I shout, “Don’t fret, I’ll help!”
They both protest, but I insist
I’m well prepared and have a list
of things to sort so nothing’s missed.
I don’t need ANY help!
Christmas may be the best time of year, but there’s SO MUCH to do. This is what one little girl discovers when she tries to help her parents by doing EVERYTHING herself – with chaotic consequences! Will she get everything done before the big day? And what will she do if a special visitor really needs her help?
This bouncy, rhyming tale makes the perfect story for the build-up to Christmas with themes of self-confidence, teamwork and asking for help. Read more adventures in the series: I Really Want the Cake, I Really Want to Win, I Really Want to Shout and I Really Want to Share.
Author: Simon Philip
Genres: Children’s
For Pedro, everything must be perfect, but he’s not yet found the perfect friend. One day he meets
Poppy, who seems perfect too-until Pedro goes round to her house for tea and, to Pedro’s horror, she dips her chips in mustard and burps the entire alphabet!
Still, Pedro and Poppy prepare a hula-hoop routine for the talent show, but Pedro decides that Poppy just isn’t taking it seriously enough, so he goes at it alone. As Pedro is about to find out, aiming for perfection may not be a perfect approach to life. Sometimes doing something imperfectly with a friend can be a lot more fun!
From the award-winning Simon Philip comes a hilarious new picture book about perfectionism, friendship, and hula-hooping!
“A highly relatable and playful story about the importance of imperfection - especially when it comes to choosing our friends.”
- Duncan Beedie, author and illustrator of The Bear Who Stared“Two picture book greats in one perfect tale!”
- Kate Hindley, award-winning children's book illustrator of The Littlest Yak“I truly enjoyed reading [this] book. I hope this book is read...so that everyone understands that being imperfect is a genuine expression of our uniqueness!”
- Wendy Meddour, author of Tisha and Blossom“I searched for imperfections in this delightful book and couldn't find any - pitch perfect!”
- Jeanne Willis, author of Slug Needs a Hug and Who's in the Loo?“What a treat! Pages of perfectly poised kids in a pickle.”
- Sharon Davey, illustrator of I Don't Like Books; Never. Ever. The End and Do Not Disturb the Dragons“As a recovering perfectionist this book struck a chord - I hope children everywhere find a friend as imperfect as Poppy. A perfectly perfect picture book about the pitfalls of perfection.”
- Claire Powell, author of The Swifts and Marty Moose in First Class Mischief“This is such a perfect story about embracing imperfection for anyone who is afraid of making mistakes. It's sweet and funny with lively characters and absolutely gorgeous artwork.”
- Naomi Jones, award winning author of Thunderboots“Picture Book Perfection! Pedro is sure to become children's imperfect hero!”
- Nathan Reed, illustrator of Sam Wu is Not Afraid of Sharks“The enjoyable, bouncing rhythm of Philip's words are perfectly matched with Okstad's clever compositions and heartwarming details. My daughter and I will laugh and learn every time we read this humorously heartfelt story!”
- Neil Clark, author and illustrator of Crash Bang Wallop! and Sparkle & Splodge“This is terrific - the perfect picture book; LOVE the illustrations, and the humorous story - hoops of fun!”
- Steven Lenton, illustrator of the Shifty McGifty series
Author: Simon Philip
Genres: Children’s
WINNER OF THE 2025 READING ROCKS BOOK AWARDS
An uplifting, perceptive rhyming story about life’s ups and downs, and how those experiences help shape us into well-rounded people.
Square used to have FOUR straight sides and FOUR pointy corners, and this made life pretty tough. His corners always got knocked and travelling was an awkward, bumpy ride. Until one day, Square realised that dwelling on those thoughts was far from smart or wise. Instead he pledged to see the positives – like the cooling breeze on summer days, a friend’s smile and the taste of homemade lemonade. And while Square still got bashed and bruised, he didn’t seem to mind so much.
Then, unnoticed at first, Square slowly got rounder and rounder everyday…
This heartening story is a beautiful, accessible metaphor that shows how our experiences contribute to who we are, and how even though life can be difficult, there is always good to be found. Brought to life through Simon Philip’s joyful rhyming text and Neil Clark’s bold and bright illustrations, it’s the perfect book for fans of Look Up, The Koala Who Couldand Blown Away.
Author: Simon Philip
Genres: Children’s
Teddy is NOT a baby anymore. So why won’t his family stop fussing over him?
One day he decides to take matters into his own hands. Soon Teddy is brushing his own hair, buttoning his own coat, and even making his own breakfast. What could possibly go wrong? A hilarious and highly relatable story from award-winning author, Simon Philip.
Author: Simon Philip
Genres: Children’s
Dads Are Incredible champions the diverse nature of dads and uplifts and celebrates ALL types of dads everywhere – the perfect present to mark the arrival of a new baby or to give to that very special dad on Father’s Day.
Dads are SUPER. Dads are EXTRAORDINARY.
They can be dashing and daring . . . and loving and caring.
Some love to play darts. Some like making tarts!
All dads are DIFFERENT, MAGIC . . . and INCREDIBLE!
A funny and warm celebration of dads told through joyful rhyme by award-winning author Simon Philip (You Must Bring a Hat, I Really Want to Win), with captivating illustrations by Dawn Lo (Snow Song). Just like Wellington’s Big Day Out by Steve Small, Amazing Daddy by Rachel Bright and Amazing Dad by Alison Brown, Dads Are Incredible is a humorous and tender exploration of the love between a father and child.
Author: Simon Philip
Genres: Children’s
You probably know it’s good manners to ALWAYS say ‘please’ when asking for something. But when Bill forgets this very simple rule, the consequences are WACKIER than he could ever have imagined.
Get ready for a laugh-out-loud adventure featuring spaceships, jungle tigers, mountain yaks, fairytale castles and a whole host of alien toads. Saying ‘PLEASE’ has never been so important!
This joyfully funny, side-splittingly silly follow-up to ACHOO! is perfect for fans of You Can’t Take an Elephant on the Bus and The Squirrels Who Squabbled.
From the bestselling, award-winning author of You Must Bring a Hat and I Really Want the Cake (shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize), and the illustrator of Think Big by Kes Grey.
Author: Simon Philip
Genres: Children’s
Join two friends on a wild penguin chase around the city.
Our self-described penguin ‘expert’ finds black-and-white animals at every turn. But are any of them really penguins – and can you spot the penguin hiding on every page?
Written in Simon Philip’s distinctively witty voice, this is brilliantly funny storytelling that plays on the pantomime convention of ‘it’s behind you’. Readers will love guessing what each new animal is from the glimpse given in the artwork, before turning the page to find out. There are fun facts about all the animals in a fact file at the end of the book.
Author: Simon Philip
Genres: Children’s
A celebration of mums written by Simon Philip with joyful and traditional illustrations by Dawn Lo.
Mums are SPECIAL. Mums are UNIQUE.
They can play let’s pretend . . .
. . . and be your best friend.
They can be pilots of planes
Or drivers of trains.
All mums are DIFFERENT, MAGIC . . . and MAGNIFICENT!
Mums Are Magnificent champions the diverse nature of mums and uplifts and celebrates ALL types of mums everywhere – the perfect present to mark the arrival of a new baby or to give to that very special mum on Mother’s Day. Just like I Love My Mummy by Giles Andreae and Emma Dodd, With My Mummy by James Brown and Cally Johnson-Isaacs, and My Mum by Anthony Browne, Mums Are Magnificent is a tender exploration of the love between mother and child.
Author: Simon Philip
Genres: Children’s
Everyone knows sharing is difficult, but a new sibling can be a particularly tricky challenge for lots of children.
This story is a brilliantly funny take on growing families and introducing new siblings. The determined heroine of I Really Want to Share faces this conundrum – with mixed results!
‘One morning, as I lazed in bed,
my parents, smiling, came and said,
“Come snuggle up with us instead.
We’ve news we want to share.”
That’s when I learned that we, a three,
a perfect little family,
would soon be four, Mum telling me,
“You’ll have to learn to share.”
Author: Simon Philip
Genres: Children’s
A hilarious book about the importance of ALWAYS covering your nose when you sneeze . . . and what happens if you don’t!
You probably know it’s good manners to ALWAYS cover your nose when you sneeze. But when Sid forgets this very simple rule, the consequences are WILDER than he could ever have predicted.
Get ready for a laugh-out-loud, sneeze-driven joyride, featuring elephants, pirates, acrobats, giants, princesses and a whole lot of pandas. Sneezing will never be the same again!
This joyfully anarchic, side-splittingly funny story is perfect for fans of You Can’t Take an Elephant on the Bus and There’s a Shark in the Bath.
From the bestselling, award-winning author of YOU MUST BRING A HAT (Sainsbury’s Children’s Book of the Year 2016) and I REALLY WANT THE CAKE (shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize 2018), and the illustrator of THINK BIG and INCREDIBLE YOU.
Author: Simon Philip
Genres: Children’s
When a sabre-toothed cub strolls into Esme’s Stone Age village, she enthusiastically adopts it as her own, and names him Seb.
But when Esme tries to train Seb as her pet, he won’t listen-even when she uses her very loudest voice. When it becomes clear that Seb doesn’t want to be anyone’s pet, Morris the mammoth wonders-could they all be friends, instead?
Author: Simon Philip
Genres: Children’s
Esme is a small cave girl.
She has the kind of voice that’s great for keeping big things with sharp teeth away but that isn’t so great for keeping secrets, like the plans for Morris the mammoth’s birthday surprise. But when the birthday surprise is in danger of not being finished on time, it is Esme’s booming voice that brings people together, makes sure the job is done, and allows the party to go with a real swing!
Author: Simon Philip
Genres: Children’s
Sometimes I find it really tough
to make sure I’m not in a huff
because there’s simply so much stuff
that makes me want to yell.
We all get angry once in a while, but it can be hard to know what to do when we feel this way. The determined heroine of I Really want the Cake is back with a new connundrum. What should she do when she REALLY wants to shout.
“An entertaining and imaginative book that teaches young children about managing anger.”
- The Independent
Author: Simon Philip
Genres: Children’s
Another laugh-out-loud picture book from the award-winning author of You Must Bring a Hat, I Don’t Know What to Call My Cat and Be More Bernard.
I have to start at school today.
“You’ll have such fun!” my parents say.
I know they think I’ll be okay,
But what if things don’t go my way?
Starting at a new school can be scary business. From rhinos at the gate to bears who won’t share, there are all SORTS of things that could go wrong. Luckily, Grandma is on hand to point out that there’s no need to fright, as things could just as easily . . . go right!
Simon Philip‘s latest picture book is a riotously funny but ultimately reassuring look at one child’s far-fetched imaginings about the first day of school, brought to life by Ged Adamson‘s (Shark Dog) bold and fabulously expressive illustrations.
Author: Simon Philip
Genres: Children’s
Today is Sports Day. I CAN’T WAIT! And as I know that I’ll be great, I’ve planned how I will celebrate – because I’m going to win.
Our heroine is determined that she’s going to win all the events at school sports day. The problem is that winning isn’t as easy as it looks. She doesn’t win the running race or the tug of war – and she can’t even win a game of hide-and-seek. But maybe winning isn’t really the point?
A joyful picture book with an important message from author Simon Philip and illustrator Lucia Gaggiotti of I Really Want the Cake.
Author: Simon Philip
Genres: Children’s
Winner of the Sainsbury's Children's Book of the Year 2017
The only rule for attending this party is … you MUST bring a hat. But what if you don’t own a hat? Will bringing a monkey wearing a hat be enough? Find out in this tale that builds to a gloriously quirky, hilarious ending.
Author: Simon Philip
Genres: Children’s
Bernard has decided that he’s not going to be like all the other bunnies any more.
He’s not going to hop when everyone else hops, or bounce when they bounce. And while others might dream of carrots, Bernard’s dreams are altogether more…disco!
He starts small, but when he finally gets to groove with grace and jive with joy at Bertie and Brenda’s Bunny Ball, Bernard shows the world that being yourself is the very best thing a bunny can be.
Illustrated by Kate Hindley
Author: Simon Philip
Genres: Children’s
A brilliantly funny book about what happens when you say yes, from award-winning author Simon Philip and exciting illustrator Annabel Tempest
Sometimes saying yes is a brilliant thing. You can meet new people, discover amazing things, and go on exciting adventures… but not always.
When a gorilla named Gideon shows up at your house with lots of questions and some preeeeeetty bonkers requests, perhaps “yes” will lead to trouble, trouble, and maybe just a touch more trouble. One thing’s for sure – it definitely won’t be boring!
From the author of You Must Bring a Hat(winner of the Sainsbury’s CHILDREN’S BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD 2016) and I Don’t Know What to Call My Cat, comes a story which will have both parents and children laughing out loud!
Author: Simon Philip
Genres: Children’s
Every cat needs a name.
One name, one word, just a sound… It should be easy to choose one, right? WRONG!!! I just don’t know what to call my cat!
Choosing the right name for a new pet is very important! Find out just what this cat’s name turns out to be in this clever and witty story from an exciting debut author and talented young illustrator.
Author: Simon Philip
Genres: Children’s
Shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Prize 2018
There’s a smell I can’t ignore.
It’s wafting through the kitchen door.
It’s time for me to find out more.
I think it might be cake.
How do you resist the most amazing cake ever? Especially when your mum has left a note saying that you MUST NOT eat the cake?
This wonderful rhyming text from Simon Philip, author of You Must Bring a Hat, is illustrated with huge energy and humour by Lucia Gaggiotti.
“Filled with short, punchy rhyming text and playful pages experimenting with font size, this is a brilliant, giddy read aloud.”
- Mama Filz“The rhyming text in this story is easy to read aloud and coupled with the humour in the pictures it’s a very amusing read.”
- Story Snug“I Really Want the Cake is a delight – pure joy from start to finish”
- Get Kids Into Books
Author: Simon Philip
Illustrator: Sheena Dempsey
Genres: Children’s
Fred may look ordinary, but sometimes people who look ordinary turn out to be not very ordinary at all … because it just so happens that Fred is a Wizard!
The only problem is that Fred is completely, mind-boggingly TERRIBLE at magic…
And now he’s training with the amazing Merlin, hoping to transform from the worst wizard around to a magical marvel. But when an ancient magical book is stolen and Merlin goes missing, Fred discovers that sometimes magic isn’t the answer and that he has other talents that can help him solve the mystery that’s got everyone else stumped!
From Simon Philip, author of You Must Bring a Hat and I Really Want the Cake, and Sheena Dempsey, illustrator of Dave Pigeon, comes a tale full of magic and fun.
Author: Simon Philip
Illustrator: Sheena Dempsey
Genres: Children’s
Fred may look ordinary, but sometimes people who look ordinary turn out to be not very ordinary at all … because it just so happens that Fred is a Wizard!
Sounds pretty great, right? Except that Fred is absolutely, completely, mind-boggingly TERRIBLE at magic. At school, he’s stuck in a class of wizards half his age, feeling like a twit among tots. At home, he’s endlessly teased by his siblings and always a disappointment to his parents. All Fred wants is to become a better wizard….
So when he hears about a competition to meet Merlin (yes, THE Merlin!) Fred knows it’s his one chance to prove to his family that he’s not the worst wizard in town. The catch? To win the competition he has to capture the tail of a terrifying, fire-breathing lizard…
Author: Simon Philip
Illustrator: Sheena Dempsey
Genres: Children’s
Fred may look ordinary, but sometimes people who look ordinary turn out to be not very ordinary at all . . . because it just so happens that Fred is a wizard! The only problem is that Fred is totally, absolutely, mind-boggingly terrible at magic. . .
In his third adventure, Fred is invited to stay at the world-famous Magic Camp for Wizards of Astounding Genius, which has to be a mistake, surely? Will being surrounded by incredible magicians make Fred’s rubbish spells look even worse, or will he discover he has more tricks up his sleeve than he realises?
Author: Simon Philip
Genres: Children’s
A hilarious picture book about saying the importance of saying ‘Sorry’. Manners have never been so much fun!
You probably know it’s good manners to ALWAYS say ‘Sorry’ when you make a mistake. But when Clare forgets this very simple rule (OOPS!), the consequences are stranger than she could ever have imagined.
Get ready for a laugh-out-loud adventure featuring dragons, trolls, polar explorers and a whole load of furious fishermen. Saying ‘Sorry’ has never been so important!