Barry Timms

Barry Timms is a British children’s author known for writing engaging and meaningful picture books that help young readers understand emotions, relationships, and social skills. He is the author of I’m Sorry!, a story that focuses on the importance of apologising and making things right after mistakes.

Timms is a multiple award-winning storyteller who enjoys the way books bring people together. He grew up in the rugged Cornish landscape but now lives by a South London water tower and is a city boy at heart. Barry can often be found with pencil in hand, writing or drawing or both. Most exciting of all is putting words and images together, and the surprising results that can happen. Barry likes road movies, ghost trains, and exploring forgotten side streets. He has twice been shortlisted for the UK Lollies Awards for “This is NOT a Unicorn!” and “This is not a Dinosaur!” In the USA, he won the Bock Book Award for Children’s Literature for “Love Grows Everywhere.”

In I’m Sorry!, Timms uses a gentle and relatable narrative—often featuring expressive characters and colourful illustrations—to show children that saying sorry is more than just words; it involves understanding feelings, taking responsibility, and trying to fix what went wrong. The book is especially useful for parents and teachers as it introduces key ideas about empathy, kindness, and communication in a simple and accessible way.

Barry Timms is known for creating playful yet thoughtful stories that explore themes such as friendship, self-confidence, honesty, and being true to oneself. His books are widely used in early learning settings and are appreciated for their combination of humour, warmth, and important life lessons, helping children develop both emotionally and socially while enjoying imaginative storytelling.