Suzanne Francis Hendra (born 15 August 1973) is a British writer and illustrator of over 100 books for children, many co-written with Paul Linnet,[1] including Barry the Fish with Fingers. Her books Wanda and the Alien and Supertato have been adapted for television.[2]
Hendra graduated from the University of Brighton in 1994[3] where she received a bachelor's degree in technology for graphic design.[4] She currently lives in Brighton[1] where she works in a shared artists' studio. Hendra has worked as an illustrator for Bloomsbury, Walker Books, Oxford University Press, Macmillan and others.[5] Hendra has one daughter named Wanda.[6]
Hendra had been working as an illustrator for several years before she changed her style due to the persuasion of Vicki Willden-Lebrecht of Bright Agency.[4]
Hendra and Paul Linnet's book, Barry the Fish with Fingers was considered colourful and cheerful by Publishers Weekly.[7] Hendra used gouache paint and deliberately created bright, flat compositions for the book, which Kirkus Reviews says introduced an "impossibly endearing little fish."[8] The New York Times wrote that "Hendra's bright and cheerful undersea characters make the ocean seem like a great place to be."[9] No-Bot, the Robot With No Bottom won the Picture Book Award in the 2014 Oxfordshire Book Awards.[10]
The television adaptation of Wanda and the Alien was produced for the United Kingdom's Channel 5 Milkshake programming by Random House Enterprises and Komixx Entertainment.[11] "Wanda and the Alien" also appeared on Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. channels in most countries.[12] "Wanda and the Alien" was shortlisted for the 17th Big Chip Award in 2015.[13]
Along with Linnet, Hendra wrote a book for 2016's World Book Day titled Supertato: Hap-Pea Ever After for pre-school children.