Hello my name is Kathy Urban and I love making up stories. I love writing them too. To share with you and your little one. Have a look. I hope there's something for you.
Hop Lola Hop - A Magical Christmas Adventure
Booktrust - February Books We Love
Author Spotlight - Kathy speaking to DXB Today on Dubai One TV
With the 2025 Emirates Airlines festival of Literature kicking off, the spotlight is on authors this week. πAuthors and their booksπ
It was both an honour and a true pleasure to speak on Dubai One TV's programme DXB Today about mine. Making books comes from a place of passion for reading and writing and essentially making up stories - something I have done for as long as I can remember. Now nearly three years into author life and I have four books published - another one translated - and a new one out later this year. All of this wouldnβt have happened without a great support network - most and foremost my family - but also a growing community of fellow writers that cheer you on - and last but not least this wonderful place I call home and its people that are embracing my stories.
Thank you Dubai - to all your little readers that I have met at school and book events, who enjoy reading my stories - and now watching too aboard Emirates - love to you all. Thank you for shining a spotlight on my stories about wandering toy bunnies and buzzy little bees. This was fun !! Kathy x
Discover all Books
written by Kathy Urban
Our books are available through any good bookseller. Why not visit your favorite bookshop today (they love to see you) and ask about our books.
For more info about availability in the UK, EU, US and the Middle East as well as Australia, please view our Stockist page.
For school and nursery discounts, please get in touch.
βStorytime with Lola & Friendsβ to Launch on Emirates ICE Entertainment
For the littlest travelersβthis oneβs for you! π«Ά
Get ready to buckle up and join magical adventures at 30,000 feet with βStorytime with Lola and Friendsβ
Iβm beyond excited to share that βStorytime with Lola and Friendsβ, a brand-new childrenβs entertainment channel, featuring all of my childrenβs books, will be launching this January exclusively on Emirates Airlines award-winning ICE entertainment system!
I am lucky to have worked with some incredibly talented people on this and who made sure that I keep getting goosebumps every time I watch these stories.
I hope youβll feel the same. So if you do find yourself aboard an EK flight these coming mnths - have a wee peak at the Kids TV Pre-School section and let me know what you think.
From Page to Stage
Hop Lola Hop at the Emirates LitFest 2023
Hop Lola Hop - the adventures of a missing toy bunny - Lola - turned into a fun and interactive theatrical performance fit for little story lovers and their own cuddly toys.
Directed by Gregory Lunn, the cast is made up of Emma Oberberg, Tabata Alejandra Lopez Ulloa, and Ellie Pinkerton as Lola, who was the female lead in the Courtyardβs summer performance of David Mametβs βOleannaβ. Emma Oberberg is Kathy's daughter whose own toy rabbit was what inspired Kathy to create Lola's adventures.
'When I began writing Lola's story, I never imagined our little bunny would one day hop on stage. It was an incredible experience as we got to entertain children in an entirely different way.
For Kind Little Hands Everywhere β¦
You make me hopeful. Kathy
A chance encounter sparks a heart-warming rescue mission, as a young boy, Noah, tries to revive a tired bee which he finds on the streets of a busy city. A touching, uplifting story, highlighting the importance of nature in urban settings and offering young readers the opportunity to explore how to be active citizens and caring individuals in an ever-changing world.
Kind Little Hands | Written by Kathy Urban | Illustrated by Sally Garland | Publishing this Autumn by Little Steps UK
I am excited to share the news that I have teamed up with Buglife - the Invertebrate Conservation Trust to support their vital work in restoring pollinator habitats areas across the UK.
Buglife is the only organisation in Europe that dedicates its work to the conservation of all invertebrates, including bees, butterflies, spiders and other creatures vital to maintain our ecosystem. Buglife is spearheading the βB-linesβ recovery network, which aims to reconnect isolated wildflower-rich habitats in urban and rural areas to help pollinators roam more freely.
Visit www.buglife.org.uk for more information.
THANK YOU π«Ά EVERYONE
β¦ Friends, mums and dads and the little ones - especially the little ones - for joining me on my latest reading adventure at Bookworm Dubai this weekend.
Together we embarked on a bee saving π rescue mission - learned that bees indeed have five eyes β¦ and that they love love LOVE to waggle - because who wouldnβt love to dance around a beautiful garden of flowers. πΊ πΊπΈπ·
A special thank you goes to the beautiful Meriem - The Bee Fairy - for joining and supporting Saturdayβs book launch of βKind Little Handsβ with lots of interesting facts about π and giving everyone a chance to see her busy bees at work.
Little ones were in for a treat to taste locally produced honey from Hatta Honey Bee Garden.
I am very grateful for the support and encouragement the entire Bookworm team continue to provide in both my author journey and making events like this one happen.
Thank you also to Emaar for their support on the day and bringing joy and fun to the heart of our wonderful community.
Love to you all π«Ά. Kathy
PS - Copies of Kind Little Hands are now available across Bookworm branches. If you stop by Bookworm Umm Suqueim do take a minute to read all the beautiful messages that have been left on our wall of kindness. Weβd love for you to contribute too!
School Visits
Kathy offers readings, presentations and creating writing workshops for primary school classes. Her visits are fun and interactive and will help stimulate students imagination and develop their creative writing skills and confidence in becoming authors themselves.
For more info, contact: Robin Snook at Authors Abroad robin@caboodlebooks.co.uk
For our exclusive nursery programme featuring the Story Train, please contact Kevali Productions.
Just to let you know β¦
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UAE Authors
Weβve been around for a while and itβs time to let you all knowβ¦
Hereβs a my new blog post how the UAE Authors Group for childrenβs writers started out.
Get yourself a cup of tea (or coffee) - this post goes beyond 20 seconds.
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Free Teaching Resources
Download our free teaching resources pack here
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βΩΩΩΩβ - Now shipping across the Middle East
Excited to see little Lulu - the brand new Arabic translation of our toy bunny adventure - available to young readers across the world.
Available for shipping worldwide with Maisontini
Looking for a new picture book for a little one in your life ?
If youβre not really into picture books yourself, thatβs ok - but there may be a little one in your life who is (and is crazy about toy bunnies).
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Say Hello to βΩΩΩΩβ
Thrilled to announce that Lolaβs publishing journey is entering a new chapter!
Please say hello to βΩΩΩΩβ or βLuluβ who is about to hop! hop! hop! on to her Arabic publishing adventure!
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Now in Stock at House of Wisdom, Sharjah
Thrilling book news to share this week as βA Yummy Market Day Adventureβ - the second title in the Hop Lola Hop series is now available for sale at the Little Store - House of Wisdom, Sharjah.
Do you take your kids to the Farmers Market ? Or enjoy picking strawberries in the fields? How about a yummy picnic in the garden?
This story takes you to all these places !
Hop Lola Hop - A Yummy Market Day Adventure
Written by Kathy Urban
With illustrations by Siski Kalla
Published 2023 by Little Steps Publishing UK
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Sharing toy bunny love on Dubai Eye103.8
Christmas is very nearly here β¦ time for the cosy jumpers to come out and share a little more toy bunny love β€οΈ .
Thanks so much to Helen and producer Milanie for inviting me on the programme this week to talk about my new book - Hop Lola Hop - A Magical Christmas Adventure ππ°
Not sure if I ever get used to the idea of answering questions rather than asking them but Helen made it all feel so easy. Thank you !
Chatting toy bunnies, writing for little humans, publishing tips and more details about our upcoming βLola mini movieβπ₯ this coming Friday.
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Signed copies available at The Little Bookshop
Support your local indie this Christmas.
Signed copies of Lolaβs Christmas Adventure are now available at the Little Bookshop in Cookham, Berkshire.
We have a growing list of independent bookshops that carry our titles. If you are a bookseller and interested to find out more about the Hop Lola Hop series, do get in touch.
Our books are available via Gardners and BookSource in the UK.
In Australia, our titles are distributed by Woodslane.
For stocking inquiries in the UAE and Middle East, feel free to get in touch directly or reach out to our local distributor CIEL.
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Available at Wimbledon Books
Our former local bookshops in Wimbledon Villages continues to support the Hop Lola Hop series.
Support your local indie this Christmas.
Why not visits your favorite bookshop today (they love to see you) and ask about my books.
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14 of the best childrenβs books about Christmas β for different ages.
Delighted to say that Hop Lola Hop - A Christmas Adventure features in this yearβs Christmas Book List of parenting coach Sue Atkins. Thrilled to see Lolaβs adventure featuring alongside other childrenβs Christmas classics such as βThe Polar Expressβ by Chris Van Allsburg and βThe Snowmanβ by Raymond Briggs. Did you spot the big train in our book. Itβs no coincidence, the stage setting that features is inspired by Allsburgβs classic tale.
The Hop Lola Hop childrenβs book series is part of the Sue Atkins Book Club - a great community bringing together childrenβs book authors and parents.
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Featured in Time & Leisure Magazine
Lolaβs Christmas Adventure features in the December issue of Wimbledon Time & Leisure Magazine
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Christmas in the desert with Maisontini
DESCRIPTION
IT'S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR! GET READY FOR SOME FESTIVE FUN, AND JOIN US FOR CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING FESTIVITIES AT MAISON TINI.
CRAFT YOUR OWN SET OF ORNAMENTS, WRITE A LETTER TO SANTA, ENJOY CHRISTMAS STORYTIME, AND HELP LIGHT UP THE TREE WITH FESTIVE CHEER! SO, COME, SHARE THE MAGIC AND CELEBRATE THE FESTIVE SEASON!
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Sun, Dec 3 @4PM - Kinokuniya Dubai Mall
Come and join us for some festive fun with author Kathy Urban who will be reading her new Hop Lola Hop book βA Magical Christmas Adventureβ and get crafty with some card making activities.
The event is free and suitable for children aged 3-8.
Copies of the book will be available to purchase at Kinokuniya both in store and online .
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Nov 28 at Wimbledon Library
Come and join us for some festive fun with author Kathy Urban who will be reading her new Hop Lola Hop book 'A Magical Christmas Adventure' and get crafty with some card making activities.
'Itβs very nearly Christmas and it promises to be a magical one for Lola and Ella ... that is until our little bunny realises that someone else is about to enter their lives and change everything. Will Ella still have time for her bunny? And whatβs Santa got to do with it? Join the little toy bunny as she Hop! Hop! Hops! on to her most exciting adventure so far.'
Event suitable for children age 3-8
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Hop Lola Hop in Birmingham
As part of Jollybox's Fun Learning Campaign, the brilliant Children's author Kathy Urban will be delivering a fun filled story time and craft workshop at Redditch Library on the 27th November at 3:30pm! π
This event is free to attend and there is no booking required either, just pop in on the day and have lots of fun. Kathy's books will also be available to buy at the event too.
For more on Kathy, follow this link:
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Magrudys Exclusive - Let's get cooking
Come cook with Citrus and Lola, the beloved characters created by your favorite locally-based children's book authors Ebtisam Al Beiti
and Kathy Urban.
Join us for a bookish picnic on November 18th, starting at 4:30 PM at Magrudys Mall in Jumeirah. We'll be preparing and learning how to make pancakes and smoothies while enjoying a delightful picnic together. It promises to be a charming evening - we can't wait to have you with us! π₯π
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Signed by the Author At Kinokuniya Dubai Mall
Signed copies of Lolaβs Magical Christmas Adventure now available at Books Kinokuniya Dubai Mall.
Purchase your copy online or visit the shop in Dubai Mall
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Kirkus Featured: Indies Worth Discovering
November 2023 -Hop Lola Hop features in Kirkus Reviews Magazine βIndies Worth Discoveringβ Annual Booklist
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βTime to go home, little bunny.β
Every story has a home and so does our little toy bunny series.
This Christmas we are thrilled to see Lola and her friend Ella return to the place that provided many happy memories for our young family.
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Hop Lola Hop in PW!
September 2023 - Hop Lola Hops features in Publishers Weekly Indie Spotlight
A special mention of second our toy bunny adventure in the September edition of Publishers Weekly Spotlifght
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Expatwoman Magazine Interview
Read my interview with Expatwoman, where I talk expat life and the reason I chose to swap a busy newsroom career for the world of childrenβs books.
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![Hop Lola Hop | Emirates LitFest]()
Hop Lola Hop at the Emirates LitFest
Thereβs always time and room for stories wherever you go.
My experience of the 2023 Emirates LitFest has been one filled with memories of many firsts !!!
Being invited as an author β¦ at a literature festival β¦well, that was a first for me.
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Now available at Waterstones Wimbledon & Ealing branches!
Weβre thrilled to see Hop Lola Hop has made it on the shelves of Waterstones Ealing and Wimbledon branches.
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Signed Copies available at Polka Theatre, Wimbledon
Pick up your signed copy of Hop Lola Hop at Polka Theatre in Wimbledon.
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Hop Lola Hop - UK Library Mini Tour
Thereβs always time and room for stories wherever you are β¦
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We got cooking at the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair
We enjoyed a very interactive morning at the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair , where Lola and I were joined by some eager students to showcase their cooking skills.
After reading our latest book, A Yummy Market Day Adventure, Lola and I invited some students on the stage to help us prepare the batter, stir and bake some delicious pancakes.
And rest assured - just like Lola and Ella, these kids made sure that nothing would go to waste that morning.
Connect with Kathy Urban on Instagram
