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 ]
This list showcases 10 great recent picture book biographies by and about trailblazing women—get ready to inspire the young reader in your life. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2019-10-21 10:33:42 UTC ]
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A buyer circles back to talk sell-through on bookseller favorites. Plus, a holiday preview! Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-10-18 12:00:02 UTC ]
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Publisher Walker Books has snapped up The House at the Edge of Magic, a middle-grade comic fantasy adventure by picture book author Amy Sparkes in a two-book deal. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-10-18 00:50:05 UTC ]
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Jim Field makes his author-illustrator début with the perfect picture book for budding language learners. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-10-16 20:29:18 UTC ]
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Puffin has acquired the first children’s book from author–illustrator Keri Smith, Wreck this Picture Book, due to publish in autumn 2020 as part of a global release. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-10-16 10:22:48 UTC ]
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Hachette Children’s has landed a new picture book from Giles Andreae and illustrator Guy Parker-Rees to mark 20 years of Giraffes Can’t Dance. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-10-16 00:47:25 UTC ]
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Hachette Children's Group has acquired the first collaboration on a picture book between France-based author team Myriam Dahman and Nicolas Digard and Kate Greenaway Medal longlisted illustrator Júlia Sardà: The Wolf’s Secret. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-10-15 02:56:28 UTC ]
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Oxford University Press has signed husband-and-wife team Naomi and James Jones' debut picture book in a five-figure deal. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-10-14 08:36:11 UTC ]
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Growing up, Jeff Kinney discovered Tolkien, comics and computers at his local bookshop. When it closed he was bereft – would opening his own as an adult help to right that wrong?Author Jacqueline Woodson recently spoke about books being either mirrors or windows. Mirrors for seeing ourselves,... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2019-10-05 09:00:40 UTC ]
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Many parents want their kids to be bilingual but don’t have the tools to teach them. Enter Habbi Habbi, a platform that makes learning new languages fun. My 3-year-old has been playing in her room by herself for an hour. I’m beginning to worry she is up to no good: Is she “decorating” her walls... Continue reading at Fast Company
[ Fast Company | 2019-10-03 10:00:03 UTC ]
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‘Dr. Seuss’s Horse Museum’ is the #9 book in country, and one of three new titles at the top of our picture book list. Plus ‘This Tender Land’ sells well in the Land of Ten Thousand Lakes, and debut novel ‘The Secrets We Kept’ gets the nod from Reese’s Book Club. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-09-13 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Walker Books Group imprint Candlewick Press has acquired rights to a new children’s picture book by Caldecott medallist Jon Klassen. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-09-12 11:17:10 UTC ]
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Trigger Publishing children’s imprint Upside Down has snapped up a “heartwarming” picture book debut which aims to help children to deal with emotions and boost self-confidence. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-09-11 08:35:17 UTC ]
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Frances Lincoln Children's Books has commissioned a fictionalised picture book from Zoë Tucker and illustrator Zoë Persico, inspired by young climate activist Great Thunberg. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-09-04 12:43:38 UTC ]
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Del Rey unveils a new Max Brooks novel, a Pushcart Prize winner sells a romance trilogy, a National Book Award winner sells a picture book, and more in this week's notable book deals. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-08-30 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Simon & Schuster Children’s UK has acquired a dog-themed picture book from Richard Jones, his first as both author and illustrator. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-08-28 16:59:01 UTC ]
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Klaus Flugge Prize winner Kate Milner's new picture book has been snapped up by indie Barrington Stoke. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-08-28 07:38:33 UTC ]
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Alastair Chisholm, Morag Hood and Meg McLaren have made the 2020 Bookbug Picture Book Prize shortlist. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-08-27 21:03:28 UTC ]
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Malorie Blackman laments the lack of BAME children’s characters. I know – it’s a real battle to get writers of colour publishedMy daughter, like me, is of mixed heritage. She has wildly curly hair, as have I. When she was born four years ago I was given five copies of the same kids’ picture book... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2019-08-17 07:00:41 UTC ]
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The 2018 back-to-school picture book ‘We Don’t Eat Our Classmates’ is the #8 book in the country, thanks to some timely promotion. Plus Laura Lippman’s latest Baltimore crime novel, ‘Lady in the Lake,’ stirs up local interest, and ‘Ask Again, Yes’ is the summer reading pick of ‘The Tonight Show.’ Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-08-02 04:00:00 UTC ]
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