Marcela Ferreira is a children's picture book author, whose debut The Queen Next Door was shortlisted for the Waterstones Children's Book Prize.

Isobel Hates Change, illustrated by Mark Chambers, is out with OUP in 2026.

2025

I Could Be Eaten By a Shark - a funny, wise story about a boy and his fears. With Mark Chambers, OUP.

Biography

Born in Rio de Janeiro, Marcela moved to London as a teenager. She started reading picture books after her children were born and hasn't been able to stop since!

She loves tongue twisters (Dr Seuss is a favourite), rhyme (any book by Rob Biddulph), and laugh-out-loud stories like Poo Bum and Hoot Owl, Master of Disguise.

Marcela also enjoys learning new proverbs, and how they change according to country and culture.

Her favourite Brazilian proverbs are:
never poke a jaguar with a short stick, old parrots don't learn to talk, necessity makes the frog jump  and 
a dog bitten by a snake is afraid of sausages.

She lives in London with her husband, two children and a pair of newly rescued kittens - Loki and Thor.

Marcela Ferreira is represented by The Catchpole Agency.

2024

Bear vs Dragon, an amusing and original book about friendship, illustrated by Mark Chambers. (OUP)

2023

The Treasure (Magic Cat)
The Queen Next Door (Hachette)