Lucy Coats facts for kids

Lucy Coats, born in April 1961, is an English author who writes books for kids of all ages. She is especially good at retelling old myths and legends from different parts of the world. She writes picture books, poetry, stories, and novels.

About Lucy Coats

Lucy Coats was born in Hampshire, England. She grew up in a small village called Dummer. Later, she went to a boarding school in Kent. In 1979, she started studying at Edinburgh University. She earned a degree in English Literature and Ancient History.

After university, Lucy worked as an editor for children's books. She worked in both London and New York. Eventually, she decided to become a full-time children's author. She is married and has two children. Today, she lives in Northamptonshire.

Lucy enjoys reading, cooking, and gardening. She is also a member of the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids (OBOD). Besides writing, she visits schools. She reads stories and leads workshops about Celtic poetry for children.

Picture Books for Young Readers

Lucy Coats has written several fun picture books. These books are great for younger children.

Counting with Lucy Coats

• One Hungry Baby was her first book. It came out in 1992. A reviewer called it "a thoroughly adorable counting rhyme."
• One Smiling Sister is another counting book. It was published in 2000. It is perfect for pre-schoolers.
• Down in the Daisies combines different themes. It teaches about weather, counting, and baby animals from around the world.

King Ocean’s Flute

This book tells the story of a shepherd boy named Paulo. He learns to play the flute by listening to nature. When King Ocean hears Paulo's music, he challenges him. Paulo must go to the king's underwater palace for a musical duel. The book has beautiful watercolour pictures by Peter Malone. The Sunday Times called it a "masterpiece" and their Children's Book of the Week.

Poetry Collections

First Rhymes

This collection of poems came out in 1994. It includes both new and classic nursery rhymes. One review said it was "a marvellous collection." It also said children would want to hear it "again, and again, and again."

Myths and Legends for Kids

Lucy Coats is well-known for her books about myths. She makes old stories exciting for young readers.

Atticus the Storyteller’s 100 Greek Myths

This is Lucy Coats's most famous book. It is the largest collection of Greek myths for children ever written. The stories are told by Atticus, a sandalmaker from Crete. He travels around Ancient Greece with his donkey, Melissa. They tell the myths in the places where they supposedly happened.

The book includes a map to follow Atticus's journey. It also has many colourful pictures by Anthony Lewis. Atticus has been published in several languages. These include Greek, Italian, Hebrew, and Serbo-Croat. Simon Russell Beale also recorded it as an audiobook. Junior Education chose it as Book of the Month. They also put it on their list of 100 Best Books of 2002. They called it "storytelling at its most compelling." The book was also nominated for the Blue Peter Book Award.

Coll the Storyteller’s Book of Enchantments

This book follows a young bard named Coll. He travels with his magical raven, Branwen. They go on a quest around the British Isles. Their goal is to find Merlin and save the Thirteen Treasures of the Island of Britain. These treasures have been stolen by Viking raiders.

Coll starts his journey at Callanish in the Hebrides. He visits places like the Isle of Man, Ireland, Wales, Brittany, and Cornwall. Along the way, he tells fifty of the best Celtic myths and legends. Like Atticus, this book has pictures by Anthony Lewis. It also includes a map of Coll and Branwen's journey. This links the stories to real places. The Times said the stories were "among the best we have." They called them "ideal for bedtime reading and/or holidays in Britain."

Fantasy Novels for Teens

Hootcat Hill

This is Lucy Coats's first novel for older kids, aged 11 to 14. It was published in 2008. The story is about a girl named Linnet Perry. Her adventure begins when a boy dies in Black Meadows. Linnet's destiny is to become the Maiden Guardian. She must defeat a terrible creature called the worldwyrm. She needs to send it back to sleep deep inside the earth.

Linnet's exciting quest takes her from her hometown of Wyrmesbury. She travels to the otherworld of Avallon. There, she must battle an evil fairy sorceress named Fidget Reedglitter. Linnet has to leave behind everything she knows. She sets out into the unknown, through the Door in the Owlstones on Hootcat Hill.