Amanda Boulding’s new book, Too Much! 

Round & About

Cookham author Amanda Boulding tells us about her newest children’s book TOO MUCH! & what she loves about local life

Children’s author and illustrator Amanda Boulding is no stranger to the power of storytelling. Her gentle, joyful picture books are designed to help children navigate big feelings and nurture a connection with the natural world, which are two themes close to her heart. But Amanda’s work is also deeply rooted in her love of community and belief in the importance of education that meets children where they are. 

After a successful 13-year career with the BBC, Amanda turned her creative talents toward picture books, inspired by her own two children. “I believe stories can be powerful tools for understanding emotions and for fostering compassion,” she explains. “They give children – and grown-ups – a gentle way to connect with themselves and the world.” 

Between the ages of six and 10, Amanda lived in Hong Kong, where her dad managed PR for the Navy. “This meant incredible holidays to places like the Philippines, Maldives, and Thailand, which really sparked my curiosity about the world,” she says. “When we returned to the UK, we settled in Little Chalfont, near where I was born. I went to school there, then studied engineering at Birmingham University.” Amanda has lived in Cookham for more than 16 years and says that the local schools have played a huge role in her family’s life. “Both of my children thrived at Cookham Nursery, Cookham Rise, and Holy Trinity Primary,” she says. “I’ve been especially moved by how supportive teachers have been since my daughter’s recent dyslexia diagnosis. Mrs Lucas at Holy Trinity deserves a big thank you for helping her stay confident and engaged with learning, even when things felt tough.” 

Amanda’s latest, TOO MUCH! is about helping children aged between four and seven recognise sensory overload and discover calm strategies. “I wanted to create something that felt reassuring and gentle, like a hug in book form.”  

Education continues to play a role in Amanda’s day-to-day life. Whether she’s leading a workshop during World Book Week (she ran 26 sessions earlier this year) or sharing ideas with fellow writers at Cookham Library’s writing group or digging in with WildCookham, Amanda is a believer in lifelong learning, creativity, and community.  

When she’s not writing or illustrating (or keeping her two mischievous cats off her keyboard), Amanda loves walking the Thames Path, mooching around Marlow’s indie shops and hosting coffee-fuelled meetups at Daisy Love in Cookham. She’s a regular at The Bounty pub – “only reachable on foot, which makes it even more charming” – and is grateful to The Marlow Bookshop whose team have been incredibly supportive, stocking her work. 

Her magic wish for the world? “That every child grows up surrounded by love, nature, and stories,” she says, “and that we all try to tread just a little more gently on the planet.”