She published her first book in her 40s and became the biggest selling author of the past decade in any genre – The Gruffalo alone has sold 13m copies. How did this former busker make it so big?The room where the children’s author Julia Donaldson writes – the heart of her vast picture book empire – is down a winding staircase, in the cellar of her grand white house in Steyning, West Sussex. Her desk looks out on the street at knee height. “I’m thinking of writing a book about legs,” Donaldson said, as she showed me around the house this summer. Children from the nearby school often wave in at her as they pass. Donaldson is well known in Steyning, due to her frequent signings at the local bookshop. She and her husband, Malcolm, a retired paediatrician, recently bought the local post office to save it from closure. But elsewhere she can walk the pavement without being recognised. “I got a letter the other day for Jacqueline Wilson,” Donaldson told me. “It said: ‘You’re my favourite author!’”If you are not someone who spends much time with young children, you may only be dimly aware of Donaldson’s work – although you will probably be familiar with her most famous creation, the Gruffalo. If you have children, however, you will know her as a cultural juggernaut whose influence among children is perhaps only surpassed by the works of Disney and CBeebies. Donaldson, who is 72, has written more than 210 books: chiefly picture books, but also poetry, plays, a 60-part phonics... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'
[ The Guardian | 2020-12-17 06:00:31 UTC ]
A new picture book, a pair of novels, and two titles by a mental health expert, and more are among this week’s deals. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-12-03 05:00:00 UTC ]
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The authors of the 2005 picture book ‘And Tango Makes Three’ argue that the book’s removal from school library shelves is rooted in unconstitutional, anti-LGBTQ+ “viewpoint discrimination.” County officials insist that it is “government speech.” Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-11-26 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Paola Santos' picture book encourages young readers to appreciate nature's gifts and the love that comes with them. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2024-10-03 19:53:20 UTC ]
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Among the books hitting shelves next week are a picture book about finding joy in difficult places, a middle grade fantasy set at a beloved library, a YA mystery following a family reuniting, and more. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-07-25 04:00:00 UTC ]
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The silver screen will turn a different color next month when 'Harold and the Purple Crayon,' based on the classic picture book by Crockett Johnson, makes its theatrical debut on August 2. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-07-18 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Motorola is still trying to reclaim the glory of its original Razr phone with its latest foldables. The new Razr and Razr+ are more stylish than the previous models, and at $700 and $1,000 respectively, they're surprisingly affordable for devices with massive folding OLED screens. In other news,... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2024-06-28 11:30:27 UTC ]
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I love it when a text centers the dynamics of conversation. In my own life, talking to others gets me out of my head, and introduces me to possibilities I would never have dreamed of alone. I think of a quote by the activist Valerie Kaur, which my local bookshop has printed on some of […] The... Continue reading at Electric Literature
[ Electric Literature | 2024-06-12 11:00:00 UTC ]
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Fashions in architecture are, more or less, generational. So, the reappraisal of brutalism – a once-reviled style of architecture – is now virtually complete Continue reading at The Conversation
[ The Conversation | 2024-06-03 15:33:22 UTC ]
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Picture book writers whose works look different from one another because they’re illustrated by different artists are less apt to be on your radar. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2024-05-31 09:04:00 UTC ]
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Florence Minor, best known for numerous picture book collaborations with her husband, illustrator Wendell Minor, died on May 21 after a battle with ovarian cancer; she was 74. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-05-23 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Beaming Books takes Laura Alary's picture book tale of a Christmas that almost wasn't, Behrman House signs Howard Blas's guidebook for families and clergy planning b'nai mitzvah celebrations for children with disabilities, and more. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-05-15 04:00:00 UTC ]
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In a Bologna Book Fair session called "Dead Bunnies and Naked Bottoms: Meeting the Challenges of Children's Publishing Across Cultures," moderator Maria Russo led a discussion on international picture book successes, obstacles, and taboos. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-04-16 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Easter titles, including three P.J. Funnybunny books by Marilyn Sadler, dominate this week’s children’s picture book list. Plus cultural critic Hanif Abdurraqib returns with ‘There’s Always This Year,’ and a pair of books caution parents against screentime. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-04-05 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Laurent de Brunhoff, who revived his father's popular picture book series about an elephant king, has died. Continue reading at HuffPost
[ HuffPost | 2024-03-23 20:35:30 UTC ]
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Picture book author-illustrator Lynne Barasch, who created lively biographies as well as stories inspired by her family life, died on March 7. She was 84. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-03-21 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Penguin Random House strengthened its grip on the picture book lists and made gains on the frontlist fiction lists, which Scholastic still rules. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-02-02 05:00:00 UTC ]
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A story of gross beauty from David Sedaris and Ian Falconer, a scabrous tale from Beatrice Alemagna, and more. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2024-01-26 10:00:45 UTC ]
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Established creators and future favorites are among the picture book, middle grade, and YA authors in Cincinnati. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-01-26 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Sandra Glahn, the author of ‘Nobody’s Mother,’ brings two more titles to IVP Academic; a true story inspires a picture book headed to Behrman House; and more. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-01-03 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Author Omid Arabian aims to bring a lesson on mysticism, interconnectedness, and peace to young readers in a new picture book, ‘You Are Everything’ (Triangle Square Books for Young Readers, out now), which was inspired by the ancient poet Rumi. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-12-13 05:00:00 UTC ]
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