When Bibi finally realised she wanted to write and illustrate picture books, she found she already had sketchbooks full of ideas. She has always needed to reimagine emotions and relationships as knowable creatures and tangible objects to understand them. It seems that was just what she needed for her stories. And that writing stories was just what she needed too.

Staring up at the moon, peering down at tiny lichens and moss, and her science training all influence her stories. As does her sensory delight (and overload), neurodivergence, disability, and Sri Lankan Tamil background. Her nieces fuel her work by continually surprising, delighting, and inspiring her.

She loves learning with Make Art that Sells, Curtis Brown, StoryCampDisco, The Good Ship Illustration and The School for Visual Storytelling, and WriteMentor. She was selected as a Summer 2022 WriteMentor mentee, which led to her signing up with Essie White as her agent.

She is thrilled to have her author debut The Sounds that Shelter Me due in Autumn 2026, inspired by her love of Tamil music and dance.

Bibi is a British Tamil living in Manchester, UK, and has a PhD in biological sciences.  Although she has left the lab, she continues to explore the wonders of biology through her stories, and works part-time in mental health research. She keeps a list of every rainbow she sees, and her favourite feeling is awe.

Bibi is represented by Essie White.

Publications

• The Sounds that Shelter Me, illustrated by Felishia Henditirto, Magination Press, Autumn 2026

Twitter: @BibiSenthi • Website: bibisenthi.com • Instagram: bibisenthi.com