Julia Donaldson

Julia Donaldson started her career writing songs for children’s television. In 1993, one of her songs was made into a book, A SQUASH AND A SQUEEZE. Since then she has written over forty books and plays for children and teenagers, including the rhyming story THE GRUFFALO which won three major British book awards (the Smarties Prize, the Blue Peter award for “The Best Book to Read Aloud” and the Experian “Big Three” award) and remains the UK’s best-selling picture book.

ROOM ON THE BROOM has also been shortlisted for two other book awards: the Children’s Book Award (administered by the National Federation of Children’s Book Groups) and the Sheffield Children’s Book Award.

Other books written by Julia and illustrated by Axel Scheffler are: MONKEY PUZZLE, FOX’S SOCKS, POSTMAN BEAR, RABBIT’S NAP and HIDE-AND-SEEK PIG.

Their partnership continues: THE SMARTEST GIANT IN TOWN (about a giant who gives away all his clothes) will come out this autumn, and next spring Macmillan are going to bring out a tenth birthday edition of A SQUASH AND A SQUEEZE.

Julia has also worked with different illustrators: her two most recent books are NIGHT MONKEY DAY MONKEY (a rhyming picture book illustrated by Lucy Richards) and THE DINOSAUR’S DIARY (a short novel for 7-9-year-olds). In the spring Macmillan are to publish THE MAGIC PAINTBRUSH, illustrated by Joel Stewart.

Julia is a frequent visitor to Scottish schools and libraries, where she talks, acts and sings with her audiences. For three years she was writer in residence in Easterhouse, which culminated in the publication of an anthology of writing and pictures by local adults, ALL WRITE (available from Ottakar’s Bookshop, Buchanan Galleries, Glasgow, price £3).

Julia lives in Bearsden, Glasgow, with her husband Malcolm, their youngest son and three cats.