Sam McBratney

Sam McBratney sums up his postwar childhood as short trousers, Fair Isle jumpers, the 11-plus exam and grammar school (which he didn’t much like). He read History and Political Science at Trinity College, Dublin and taught at all levels including time at a Further Education college, a grammar school, and as a primary school teacher. He retired early from the teaching profession to concentrate on his career as a writer.

Sam is best known for ‘Guess How Much I Love You’ which has rapidly become established around the world as a new picture-book classic. Over 11 million copies have been printed worldwide. Guess How Much I Love You has won numerous national and international awards including the ABBY award in USA and the Sliveren Griffel in Holland.

He has twice won the teenage category of the Bisto Children’s Book of the Year and won a Bass Ireland Arts Prize for a collection of short stories. Sam has written many books, stories and radio plays for adults as well as children.

‘I’m Sorry’ was published in 2000 and ‘I’m Not Your Friend’, an endearing tale that will strike an immediate chord with parents and children alike, comes out in Autumn 2001.

Sam is married with three grown-up children, three grandsons and more on the way He lives in County Antrim, Northern Ireland.