Following a degree in English and Education at Cambridge, Tamara spent a number of years teaching, specialising in reading development. After becoming disillusioned with approaches to reading in education and the move away from the inherent incentive offered by real books towards a focus on isolated mechanics, Tamara decided to open a children’s bookshop and reading consultancy.
Tales on Moon Lane Children’s Bookshop opened in 2003 went on to be shortlisted for Children’s Bookshop of the Year for its first three years, won Children’s Bookshop of the year in 2008 and 2011, and was named one of Time Out’s top five London bookshops in 2007.
Tamara has been a judge on the Costa and UKLA children’s book awards and has reviewed widely for the Bookseller and other magazines. Her first children’s book, Amazing Esme, the first of a three-part series, was published by Hodder in September 2011.