Leo Timmers studied advertising and graphic design and worked for many years as an illustrator. He made his debut as a picture book author in 2000 with Happy with me and was awarded with a Bookfeather (most promising picture book debut) the same year. From then on he wrote most of his books himself.
Gus’s Garage was awarded the 2017 Children’s and Youth Jury Award, a price Leo Timmers won eight times. His book Bang was awarded the prestigious Bookpeacock Award (best illustrated book of the year). A Home for Harry was elected Picture Book of the Year 2019 in the Netherlands and Monkey on the Run was chosen for the New York Times / New York Public Library 10 Best Illustrated Children’s Book 2019. Elephant’s Island was elected one of the 10 Best Picture Books of 2022 by the New York Times. In 2024, Monster Lake was awarded the Leipziger Lesekompass in Germany and longlisted for the prestigious BOON Literary Prize in Belgium. His books have been translated in 32 languages to date.
Leo Timmers’ work has also been adapted for animation. He created the TV- series Ziggy & the Zootram, and a short movie of The Kind Crocodile is currently being produced.
Leo lives with his wife and two daughters in Brussels.