Picture Book

Ice Journey of the Polar Bear - Walker Books 2024 /Candlewick Press 2025

Kirkus Reviews “In Baker-smith’s impressionistic scenes, the mother bear, alone at first and then with her playful cubs, pads over dimly lit snowscapes past glimpses of open water loosely strewn with small bits of floating ice , pausing now and again to look at viewers in silent enquiry.’

‘‘This book is part of the Protecting the Planet series published by Walker Books, featuring the work of best nature writers and most accomplished contemporary illustrators…Lou Baker-Smith’s artwork spreading across double pages is absolutely stunning.’’ Books Up North

‘‘This beautifully illustrated picture book gently explores the effects of climate change on polar bears, along with information on how we can all make a difference.’’ Father-Teacher-Reader

‘‘Illustrations are beautifully atmospheric.’’ Raising-Bookworms

Urban Nature Every Day - Batsford

“Each little daily offering is full of detail, of wonder, of charm and wit, and it is delightfully illustrated with occasional paintings and drawings by Lou Baker Smith” Hiking Historian

Around The World in 80 Buildings - Welbeck Editions / Hachette

“David Long and Lou Baker Smith take us around the world and across millennia in a book that looks at stunning buildings, in the process revealing lots about the cultures and people who built them. It makes our world feel huge, full of variety and beauty, but shows that humans, wherever and whenever they lived, have always shared imagination, determination, and technical ingenuity.” Andrea Reece LoveReading4Kids

One Million Insects - Welbeck Publishing Group

“Fun, inspiring, and well researched….Labeled art that is both stylized and anatomically correct—and that even has a somewhat humorous appeal—complements the conversational text.” Kirkus Reviews September 21

“The illustrations by Lou Baker Smith are numerous and make this book like an enormous one of those bug boxes, or terrariums. It starts on the cover and include flourescent endpages with insect silhouettes, too…” Kids Book Review

“Flosiebosie's thoughts (age 6) - I really like this book. I like all the fun facts it has about bugs. I really like learning about them. The pictures are really nice too. I want to keep reading it to learn more facts…” Toppsta

The Deep Blue - Quarto Kids

“My 9-year-old was also intrigued with the details and facts, but the pictures grabbed his attention even more. He mentioned, particularly the pictures found on pages 40&41, how they had made him sad, as it depicts marine animals trapped in plastic waste. It struck a strong chord with him and lead to a further conversation about the state of the ocean and what he could do, to make it better. Those pictures made a bigger impact on him, than I could. And for that, I am grateful to the author and illustrator.” The Word Whisperer Goodreads 2021

“Quite how Lou Baker Smith manages to capture the beauty of bioluminescent creatures in The Deep Blue as they move through the twilight zone, the fluidity and opalescence jellyfish drifting on the ocean current, or the churning swell of waves under a lowering sea is a thing of wonder. Her painterly style draws out the wonder and multi-faceted character of the marine environment, just as Charlotte Guillain's rich and poetic writing conveys not just facts about this watery world, but fascination and familiarity.” Reading Zone Reviewed by Jane Rew, school librarian.

loubakersmith@yahoo.com  ©Lou Baker Smith 2025