Paddy Donnelly is a bestselling, award winning author and illustrator from Ireland who now lives in Belgium. He has published over 25 picture books, including The Vanishing Lake, Ava and the Acorn, Wolves In Helicopters and Here Be Dragons. is picture book, The Golden Hare, was awarded the Children’s Book of the Year at the An Post Irish Book Awards 2024, while his other book Fox & Son Tailers won the Literacy Association of Ireland Biennial Children’s Book Award 2023, and was chosen as one of the official books for World Book Day 2025. He has twice been nominated for the Carnegie Medal for Illustration.

Paddy grew up on the beautiful north coast of Ireland, surrounded by mythical stories of giants, magical creatures and shape-shifting animals. His storytelling reflects his love of nature and animals.