Barbara Townley

Barbara Townley is currently an Assistant Head at a small village school in Shropshire teaching children aged 5-7. Reading hundreds of quality children’s books in her classroom has enabled her to find her own voice as an author. She has encountered many young children who struggle when their parents separate and this inspired her to write the Zig Zag books. Barbara thinks it is important that children are able to recognise themselves and their lived experiences in the books they read in order to help them make sense of the world. The 'Zig Zag the Stripy Spotosaurus' series of books follows six year old Emily, as she faces the separation of her parents with the help of a magic dinosaur and her 'Toy Family.'

Barbara has teamed up with talented illustrator and artist Cherie Jerrard, who has brought her characters and stories to life with beautiful illustrations, which both children and adults love.

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