Carolyn Robertson - Sparklypoo Director and Author

Carolyn began Sparklypoo in 2014 as a publishing platform to create  books for LGBT adoptive families when she discovered a lack of engaging reads within the childrens book market


"Most of the books we bought were poorly produced, text heavy stories that hammered home issues about having two Mums or Dads and adoption in an earnest or boring way."


I wanted to create books that were full of colour, fun and humour that would sit alongside all the other books our children enjoyed. Most of all I wanted affirming books that all children could appreciate because the topic of having Two Mums or Dads was simply incidental to the story.


Books involving same sex families shouldn't be niche or specialist, my aim is to get books reflecting different types of families into the mainstream, to normalise our types of families..."

An adoptive Mum to two boys, Carolyn is a keen advocate of the rights and needs of adopted children.  She blogs and regularly writes articles for associated adoption press and magazines. 


Carolyn was a Primary School Teacher and has taught at inner London Schools for over 20 years. Carolyn now works as a full time writer and is currently concentrating her efforts on TV scripts and radio plays for an adult audience.


Sophie Humphreys (nee Keen), Illustrator
Sophie has been a professional illustrator since 2003, having worked with Oxford University Press, Scholastic, Little Tiger Press, Pearson and many more over the years. 

"I've always been excited by original and interesting projects and Carolyn's books have been great fun to work on. My inspiration for "Roller skating mum" in the Two Mums book came straight from my own experience as a member of the York Minxsters Roller Derby team!"

Sophie lives with her 3 kids and husband whose antics provide no end of inspiration for her work!
https://www.instagram.com/sophiekeenillo/
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twitter @sophiekeenillo
www.sophiekeenillustration.com