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I’m a self-taught author and illustrator, working from a home filled with books, paper, and quiet ideas.

My debut picture book, Please Cloud, Don’t Cry, began on an autumn walk in 2018, when our then six-year-old neurodivergent daughter who rarely used her own words  looked up at the sky and said something that stayed with me. That moment grew into a lyrical story about moods, weather, and the quiet magic of listening.

My creative work is inspired by the soft wildness of everyday life, a sky change, a scribbled sentence, a flash of colour in a hedgerow. I use gouache, painted paper, digital art and a little chaos to bring emotion and movement into my illustrations.

I’m currently working on multiple children’s books that combine storytelling with sensory gentleness, emotional depth, and a touch of whimsy.

If you’d like to get in touch, please use the contact page or email me directly at info@leannebeardsley.co.uk

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If your little one has read Please Cloud, Don’t Cry, I’d love to gather some of their questions, the curiouser-er, the thoughtful-er, the more wonderfully unexpected the better. Questions about the story, or how a book is written/illustrated or what happens when a cloud sneezes! Nothing is too small. Their name and age will appear on a slide before I answer, like a tiny spotlight just for them. To send one in, you can tap the question box in Stories today, message me, or pop it in the comments. Whatever’s easiest with little hands about. I can’t wait. Children always ask the best questions …🤍
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If your little one has read Please Cloud,...

“Can your child sit still for storytime?” shouldn’t be the question. The question should be: “Is our storytime accessible for all nervous systems?” I’m a children’s book author/illustrator and parent of a brilliant child with learning differences. The above principles are what I’ve learned (in some instances, the hard way so you don’t have to) 📖 Why I created “Please Cloud, Don’t Cry” When our 6-year-old neurodivergent daughter spontaneously said “Please cloud, don’t cry” during a walk in 2018, I knew those words needed to become a book. Not just any book, but one designed WITH these principles: ✨ Clear, uncluttered illustrations (no sensory overload) ✨ Predictable rhythm and structure (safety in repetition) ✨ Nature metaphors (concrete, not abstract emotions) ✨ Space for all kinds of readers (no “right” way to engage) ✨ Gentle, calming colour palette (nervous system regulation) It’s a book for the sensitive souls. The observers. The ones who talk to clouds and trees and feel everything deeply. Perfect for: • Ages 3-8 • Neurodivergent children • PSHE/emotional literacy lessons • Bedtime anxiety • Forest schools • Children processing big feelings 📚 Available now: • Signed hardcover in my shop (link in bio) • Full audio on Spotify (free!) 💙 If this post resonated, the book will too. What accommodations have helped YOUR child fall in love with reading? Let’s build a resource in the comments 👇 #AutismParenting #ADHDKids #InclusiveEducation #ChildrensBooks #NeurodivergentReaders
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“Can your child sit still for storytime?” shouldn’t...

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A gentle start to Book Two 🦋
I...

A story born from a child’s whispered words, written for children who see the beauty in rainy days. If you love the tenderness of The Snowman and the adventure of We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, this imaginative lyrical children’s picture book might just steal your heart too. ☁️ Please Cloud, Don’t Cry a gentle story about emotions, hope, and nature. Now available to order in hardcover and paperback✨
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A story born from a child’s whispered words,...