Bethany Walker
As a child, Bethany Walker’s favourite things were reading, history and art. Her least favourite things were her two older brothers, who used to wrap her in a duvet and throw darts at her.
After studying History at university, Bethany became a teacher and then worked in museum education at some amazing institutions around the country, including the Bowes Museum, the Wallace Collection, and Sir John Soane’s Museum. Through this work – introducing new audiences to the collections in accessible ways – Bethany developed a love of telling stories. Bethany now writes her own stories for children.
Bethany particularly enjoys writing funny books. Her middle-grade books include Medusa Gorgon’s Bad Hair Day and Olly Brown, God of Hamsters. She also writes picture books, including How to Train Your Teacher and Do Lions Hate Haircuts? which won the 2024 Portsmouth School Library Service Picture Book Award.
Bethany lives with her husband and two children in Lincolnshire, close to where she grew up. As an adult, her favourite things are still reading, history and art – and she now also includes her children on that list. Her least favourite things are cucumbers, although cucumbers have never thrown darts at her (to Bethany’s knowledge). Her brothers have improved with age.