Award-winning illustrator and author Polly Noakes lives in a windswept cottage in North Yorkshire. The Lost Christmas Letter is coming in 2026, with Puffin.

Just the Two Of Us, Polly's charming picture book about an imaginary friend, won Oscar's Book Prize in 2025.

Polly's recently developed her writing, creating new stories. And with them, a fresh new illustration style.

Biography

Polly Noakes grew up in a busy and creative household in Cambridge. Initially studying illustration at Cambridge School Of Art, she returned years later to graduate with a MA in Children’s Book Illustration.

Over the years she's illustrated her own stories - like The Very Long Sleep and Hide and Seek, with Child's Play.

Polly's illustrated texts by other authors too. Like Jonathan Emmett's A Present for Rosy (Walker 2022). She's worked with Harper Collins, Macmillan, Dorling Kindersley, Usborne Books and Orion.

The Sleepytime Music Book by Sam Taplin came out with Usborne in 2022.

Find Polly Noakes as both an illustrator and a cottage-dweller on instagram. And at her very shiny new website.

Polly's newly represented by The Catchpole Agency.