Collection: Siggi Nepp

Author Profile -  Siggi Nepp

Siggi Nepp is a Tenterden-based children’s author and illustrator whose books are inspired by her extraordinary childhood sailing around the world with her family. Drawing on over 25 years’ professional experience as an architect, Siggi brings a refined visual sensibility, attention to detail, and a love of storytelling through design to her creative work.

While studying Visual Communications at UCA Canterbury, she began developing her debut book, Will She Sink or Swim?, transforming her real-life adventures into illustrated narrative stories for young readers. Her work combines memoir, travel, and visual storytelling, offering children an authentic window into life at sea and the wider world beyond their own horizons.

Passionate about inspiring curiosity, courage, and resilience, Siggi writes true stories told from a child’s perspective. Her books are uniquely enhanced with Augmented Reality (AR) features, allowing illustrations to come alive with movement and sound, creating immersive, multi-sensory reading experiences. When she is not writing or illustrating, Siggi continues to explore new creative paths shaped by a lifetime of travel, design, and storytelling.

Available Books:

'Will She Sink or Swim?'

Ages 6+ | Illustrated Narrative Non-Fiction

An illustrated true-life adventure based on Siggi’s own childhood experiences, Will She Sink or Swim? follows a young girl embarking on a two-year sailing journey with her family.

'A Girl with the Monkey in Her Hair'

Ages 6+ | Illustrated Narrative Non-Fiction

This sequel continues the extraordinary journey as the family leaves St Helena and sails across the Atlantic to Brazil.

Siggi's books are illustrated non-fiction biographical adventure for children aged 6 and up. Structured as a series of short, self-contained stories, they follow the author's real-life two-year sailing journey as a young girl with her family, beginning with their stopover at the remote island of St Helena. Richly illustrated and enhanced with Augmented Reality (AR) features, the book blends personal narrative, travel writing, and cultural exploration, offering both entertainment and educational value. It fits within the children's narrative non-fiction and adventure genres.

What Makes the Books Unique Within Its Genre

• A True, Personal Adventure Told from a Child's Perspective
  Unlike many adventure stories that are fictional or told from an adult's point of view, this book is based on the real-life experiences of the author as a young girl. The first-person narrative brings an authentic, emotionally rich voice that children can relate to, making the story more intimate and engaging.
  
  
• A Rare Glimpse into Life at Sea
  While many children's books focus on land-based adventures or fantastical journeys, this story offers an insider's view of long-term family life aboard a sailing boat - something few children's books explore in depth, especially in non-fiction. It captures the day-to-day joys, mishaps, and challenges of ocean travel with honesty and warmth.
  
  
• Exploration of Remote and Culturally Rich Locations
  The journey includes less commonly explored settings, such as the remote island of St Helena, making the narrative both educational and surprising. It introduces children to parts of the world they may not otherwise encounter in mainstream literature.
  
  
• Enhanced with Augmented Reality (AR)
  The book goes beyond traditional storytelling by incorporating AR technology - allowing readers to animate the illustrations with movement and soundscapes through a companion app. This interactive layer is rare in non-fiction children's books and adds an engaging, multisensory element that brings the story to life.
  
  
• Created by a Visual Storyteller
  Written and illustrated by a debut author with a background in architecture and visual communications, the book is artistically crafted with strong visual appeal, combining compelling design, illustration, and storytelling into a seamless whole

 Primary Audience:

• Children aged 6–10 years
  Early readers and middle-grade children who are curious about the world, enjoy real-life adventure stories, and are inspired by strong, relatable protagonists.

Ideal for:

• Young readers who enjoy illustrated non-fiction with an emotional, personal perspective
• Children interested in travel, sailing, nature, and cultural discovery
• Parents, educators, and librarians seeking engaging stories that promote resilience, curiosity, and global awareness
• Readers who benefit from interactive or multisensory content - particularly through the Augmented Reality (AR) features that enhance engagement

Educational Value:

• Supports themes of geography, environmental awareness, emotional growth, and cultural education
• Encourages reading through short story structure and visual storytelling
• Appeals to reluctant readers through interactive technology and real-world relevance

Secondary Audience:

• Families with an interest in sailing, travel, or outdoor adventure
• Teachers and homeschooling parents looking for cross-curricular learning tools
• Gift buyers seeking unique, high-quality children's books with both heart and innovation