Petr Horáček was born in Prague and studied at the Academy of Fine Art. After graduating in 1994, he moved to live in England. His first two picture books were published in 2001, winning the 'Books for Children' Newcomer award. Since then he has won a string of other international prizes and distinctions, including shortlisting for the Independent Booksellers' Week award in 2016 for The Mouse Who Reached the Sky; 'Parents' Best Book of the Year 2013 for Animal Opposites and shortlisting for the Kate Greenaway Medal in 2012 for Puffin Peter. The Perfect Present (Otter-Barry Books, 2022) is nominated for the Yoto Carnegie Medal for Illustration 2023. Petr tutors aspiring illustrators as well as holding workshops for children at literary festivals, bookshops and schools. He lives in Worcestershire, UK.
