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 ]
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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The twin sisters Jenna Bush Hager and Barbara Pierce Bush published their third picture book this week. They sat down to discuss fighting, writing and chosen family. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2023-11-09 10:02:26 UTC ]
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Now in its third year, the event stepped up its ambitions and aims not only to spotlight authors but to change audiencesAs a child, Selina Brown had a Saturday routine: her mother would go shopping and leave her at the library, where she would speed her way through novels by Jacqueline Wilson... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2023-10-20 12:55:16 UTC ]
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Actor and producer Roma Downey has penned a new picture book, ‘A Message in the Moon’ inspired by real-life struggles with uncertainty and a lesson from her father. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-10-11 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Three novelists reimagine Mary Shelley’s life and loves and her most famous creation. Continue reading at New Yorker
[ New Yorker | 2023-10-02 10:00:00 UTC ]
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The artist’s new picture book for adults explores the power of collective action. If you’re a parent, there’s a good chance you know the artist Oliver Jeffers. He illustrated the wildly popular children’s book, The Day the Crayons Quit, and he’s also written and illustrated several of his own... Continue reading at Fast Company
[ Fast Company | 2023-10-02 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Jacqueline Wilson is latest writer to wade into debate over changing dated and offensive languageThe publishing industry has been mired in debate in recent years about editing older books to remove content that could be deemed offensive.Even the prime minister became involved in February after... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2023-08-14 13:30:39 UTC ]
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Among recent publishing deals, Jemar Tisby takes two to Convergent, Faith Urey Cho brings a picture book and devotional to WaterBrook, and Zondervan looks to Cultivating Delight. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-08-08 04:00:00 UTC ]
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You and the Universe, adapted from his posthumous 2020 Earth Day message, will bring the late physicist’s ‘extraordinary work to life for readers of all ages’A new children’s picture book by Stephen Hawking is due to be published six years after the theoretical physicist’s death.You and the... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2023-08-04 12:26:34 UTC ]
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“Writing for kids had long been an ambition of mine, but until recently I didn’t know it had long been an ambition.” Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2023-07-28 09:00:25 UTC ]
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“Writing for kids had long been an ambition of mine, but until recently I didn’t know it had long been an ambition.” Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2023-07-28 09:00:24 UTC ]
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The Beauty and Importance of Our Names: A Conversation with Yejide Kilanko, by Darlington Chibueze Anuonye Interviews [email protected] Mon, 07/24/2023 - 09:09 Photo by Oluwafikunmi KilankoAmong the shortlisted short stories for this year’s edition... Continue reading at World Literature Today
[ World Literature Today | 2023-07-24 14:09:47 UTC ]
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MacNolia Cox speaks only one sentence in a picture book about her trip to the 1936 national spelling bee. Zaila Avant-garde, the 2021 champ, writes volumes. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2023-07-07 09:00:29 UTC ]
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The authors of a picture book about a penguin family with two fathers sued the state and a school district that removed the book from libraries. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2023-06-20 14:25:50 UTC ]
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Patricia J. Murphy, author of the picture book ‘Mama, Look!’ and dozens of other titles, explores how spirituality can help with difficult emotions in a new children’s book, ‘God is Everywhere: Wise Words for Little Ones.’ Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-06-06 04:00:00 UTC ]
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