Peters Picture Book of the Year, A Wild Walk to School: Q&A with Rebecca Cobb

June 18th 2025

Voted by you, our Peters Picture Book of the Year 2025 is A Wild Walk to School, written and illustrated by Rebecca Cobb. This charming and fanciful tale explores how an ordinary walk to school for two girls and their mum can be a perilous adventure, tiptoeing over lava spills and creeping over a sleeping giant's tummy. But the real danger is whether Mum will get the children to school on time!

We're delighted to be joined by Rebecca Cobb as part of our award interview series. Rebecca speaks to us about how everyday moments can be a wonderful source of inspiration, as well as why picture books are vital for sparking an early love of reading.

Rebecca Cobb | Author and illustrator Rebecca Cobb graduated from Falmouth College in 2004 and has since successfully created multiple solo and collaborative picture books for children. She has collaborated with authors such as Julia Donaldson, Nicola Davies, and Mariesa Dulak. Her picture books are known for their real warmth and originality, exploring topics such as childhood grief, imagination and friendship. She continues to establish herself as 'one to watch'. DISCOVER BOOKS BY REBECCA COBB

Congratulations on A Wild Walk to School being voted as Peters Picture Book of the Year! How does it feel to be chosen by teachers, school librarians and public librarians from across the UK?

Thank you so much! It feels absolutely amazing! It is an extra special honour coming from teachers and librarians because they are immersed in literature on a daily basis and are perfectly placed to know and understand the reactions and opinions of children of all ages and from all backgrounds - so they are real experts on children’s books!

In A Wild Walk to School, you portray a mundane walk to school as a time for play and imagination. Why did you think it was important to portray the magic of the everyday?

In my books I am always interested in the everyday moments in life, I think perhaps because they are so universal and relatable.

I also love the way that children can create games out of anything, such as fallen leaves, a low wall to climb along or a bump in the road. As adults I think we can really learn a lot from children about how to see and enjoy the magic in everyday life. 

Were there any key memories of your own walk to school, or everyday moments, which inspired your creative process for A Wild Walk to School?

I really owe this book to my two daughters because it is completely inspired by our daily walks to school. As we walk, they get lost in elaborate and imaginative adventures along the way but they are completely oblivious to my worry about the time pressure not to be late getting there.

I’m fascinated in the way that children view the world in comparison to adults and this seemed like a perfect example of this juxtaposition, where my priorities are very different to my children’s.

I thought it would make a funny book if I could show both points of view of this journey, which is an epic adventure full of excitement and peril for the children, while the mum is unaware of the erupting volcano/huge precipice/sleeping giant and is more worried that their uniform might get dirty and that they might be late for school!

Illustrations © Rebecca Cobb 2024

Our award focuses on books which excite and engage children on their reading journey. What role do you think picture books play in reading for pleasure?

I think that picture books play a crucial role in this because they are the first introduction for children to the possibilities and the wonder that can be found in books.

We are very lucky that there are so many brilliant picture books being made and published today which means that children can experience and learn all sorts of new things that they might never have the chance to experience in real life. Picture books can comfort you, help you overcome worries, teach you to cope with troubles, let you see through someone else’s eyes and develop empathy, and very importantly they can entertain you and make you laugh out loud.

The visual element of picture books means that they are accessible to the youngest of babies who can begin their reading journey by engaging with the pictures which will help them to go on to learn reading the words. Being able to read pictures also teaches children the skills to look at the world around us.

Hopefully children who enjoy reading picture books will go on to love reading books for the rest of their lives.

How do you think we adults - as leaders and carers - can encourage children to read for pleasure?

I like to think that if we adults are enthusiastic about books and read them for pleasure ourselves, then it will inspire the children around us to do the same.

Taking children to the library or the bookshop to choose books for themselves is a lovely thing to do. And reading bedtime stories to children of all ages is just a brilliant way to spend time together, to have a shared experience of enjoying a story and the perfect way to settle them down before they go to sleep.

What are you working on at the moment? (and when can we read or see it!)

I am currently illustrating a picture book called The Ice Cream Crocodile which is written by Mariesa Dulak. I loved working with Mariesa on her story There’s a Tiger on the Train so I’m very happy to be collaborating with her again and I think this book is due to be published by Faber in Spring 2026.

I am also very lucky that I got to illustrate Sarah Crossan’s picture book called A Totally Big Umbrella and that has just been sent off to print which is exciting! It will be out at the end of the summer from Walker Books.

A Wild Walk to School It's time to walk to school and Mum wants the children to get there on time. But what Mum doesn't realise is that the hill is in fact the tummy of a sleeping giant and it's important to tread carefully when the floor turns to lava! It's just as well Mum has these two Brave Explorers with her... A charming tale of wild imagination, sure to delight both children and their grown-ups. You pay £5.91           RRP £7.99 Save 26% DISCOVER

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