The House by the Park

In this warm and deeply personal tribute, Thomas Harding and Britta Teckentrup explore the life of beloved children’s author and illustrator Judith Kerr through the lens of the London house she called home.

In south-west London, beside the leafy expanse of Barnes Common, stands the house where noted children’s author Judith Kerr lived for more than sixty years. It was there that she raised her family and dreamed up many of the books that would delight generations of readers, including The Tiger Who Came to Tea and a series of adventures about Mog the cat. Moving from room to room and decade to decade, this engaging picture-book biography follows Kerr’s journey from her childhood in Germany and her family’s escape from Nazi persecution to her long and successful creative life in London.
Drawing on memories shared by Kerr’s children, author Thomas Harding brings readers closer to the people, places, and experiences that shaped her outlook and sparked her imagination. Britta Teckentrup’s evocative illustrations weave together history, memory, and wonder to create an intimate portrait of a remarkable woman and her enduring contribution to children’s literature.
Exploring themes of home, belonging, courage, and creativity, this is a rewarding read for children and adults alike, revealing how a lifetime of experiences can be transformed into books that continue to captivate readers around the world.