Jane Clarke
Encyclopedia
Jane Elizabeth Clarke is an English writer of children’s books and poetry. Her best known books include Gilbert the Great (illustrated by Charles Fuge) and Stuck in the Mud (illustrated by Garry Parsons). Jane has published over 45 books including works used for children’s reading schemes in schools. CBeebies
Bedtime Stories have featured two of Jane's books, Stuck in the Mud (read by Will Mellor
) and Knight Time (read by Jake Wood
). Stuck in the Mud is also featured with a U.S. Scholastic Book Club edition published by Scholastic Inc. which includes a CD audio edition. This audio edition is produced by Beatstreet Productions, NYC, directed by Cheryl Smith, read by Cassandra Morris
and features music composed by Michael Abbott.
Jane Clarke is a team writer on three different popular series. Dinosaur Cove (series created by Working Partners Ltd. and published by Oxford University Press
), Puddle the naughtiest puppy (series created by Working Partners Ltd. and published by Ladybird Books Ltd.) and Battersea Dogs and Cats Home
(created by Random House Children's Books and published by Red Fox.)
where she earned a combined Bachelor of Arts with honors in archaeology and history. In 1981 she completed a PhD in archaeology from University College London
.
During her doctoral studies Jane lectured at University College London
(1978–79). She also lectured at University College Cardiff in Wales part time (1981–83). She also taught history at Bryn Hafren School in Barry, Wales (1979–83). After Jane moved with her family to the Netherlands (Koewacht), she began working part time as a librarian at the Antwerp International School
. It was during this time when she started her career as a children’s author.
Jane’s husband, Martin, died of a heart attack in Antwerp, Belgium on 20 December 2001. In June 2005, Jane moved from the Netherlands back to Kent (near Deal) in England where she now lives.
Aside from writing children’s books, Jane spends a significant amount of time inspiring children to read and write. She frequently visits schools throughout the UK and Europe to do so.
Jane has also done support work for various charitable organizations including Ellenor Lions Children’s Hospice, Institute of Cancer Research
(The Clapham Grand), Battersea Dogs and Cats Home
and READ (promotes reading in Africa).
CBeebies
CBeebies is the brand used by the BBC for programming aimed at children 6 years and under. It is used as a themed strand in the UK on terrestrial television, as a separate free-to-air domestic British channel and used for international varients supported by advertising, subscription or both...
Bedtime Stories have featured two of Jane's books, Stuck in the Mud (read by Will Mellor
Will Mellor
William "Will" Mellor is an English actor. He is known for his roles as Jambo Bolton in Hollyoaks, Gaz Wilkinson in comedy, Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps...
) and Knight Time (read by Jake Wood
Jake Wood
Jake Dylan Wood is an English actor, best known in his homeland for playing Max Branning on "EastEnders" and in the United States as the current voice of the GEICO gecko.-Biography:...
). Stuck in the Mud is also featured with a U.S. Scholastic Book Club edition published by Scholastic Inc. which includes a CD audio edition. This audio edition is produced by Beatstreet Productions, NYC, directed by Cheryl Smith, read by Cassandra Morris
Cassandra Morris
Cassandra Lee Morris is an American actress, blogger, editor, writer and voice actress. She graduated NYU with a B.A. degree in Journalism. Currently she is a writer and editor in Prom and Formal Dances at About.com and on the Montrose Patch blog.In addition to her blogging and writing, she is...
and features music composed by Michael Abbott.
Jane Clarke is a team writer on three different popular series. Dinosaur Cove (series created by Working Partners Ltd. and published by Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
), Puddle the naughtiest puppy (series created by Working Partners Ltd. and published by Ladybird Books Ltd.) and Battersea Dogs and Cats Home
Battersea Dogs and Cats Home
Battersea Dogs & Cats Home is the UK's oldest and most famous home for dogs and cats and is situated in the Battersea area of London, England. It is financed by voluntary donations with an income of over £12.2 million in 2009.-History:...
(created by Random House Children's Books and published by Red Fox.)
Early life
Jane was born 17 December 1954 and brought up in Kettering, England. Her parents were Jim and June Andrew. She attended the Hawthorn Road County Primary School in Kettering. In 1972 Jane completed her secondary study at the Kettering High School for Girls. From 1972 to 1975 Jane attend the University of BirminghamUniversity of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Birmingham Medical School and Mason Science College . Birmingham was the first Redbrick university to gain a charter and thus...
where she earned a combined Bachelor of Arts with honors in archaeology and history. In 1981 she completed a PhD in archaeology from University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
.
Personal life
On 5 November 1977 Jane married Martin Clarke. Martin worked as a chemical engineer. His work took them to Mexico, Brazil, the United States, Wales and the Netherlands. Together they raised two sons, Andrew Clarke (born 15 October 1983 in Wales) and Robert Clarke (born 18 October 1985 in Wales). Both sons completed the International Baccalaureate Diploma at the Antwerp International School in Belgium and completed university degrees in the UK.During her doctoral studies Jane lectured at University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
(1978–79). She also lectured at University College Cardiff in Wales part time (1981–83). She also taught history at Bryn Hafren School in Barry, Wales (1979–83). After Jane moved with her family to the Netherlands (Koewacht), she began working part time as a librarian at the Antwerp International School
Antwerp International School
Antwerp International School is a private coeducational kindergarten, elementary, middle, and high school located in Antwerp, Belgium. The school was founded in 1967 and grown from an enrollment of 65 students to ~500...
. It was during this time when she started her career as a children’s author.
Jane’s husband, Martin, died of a heart attack in Antwerp, Belgium on 20 December 2001. In June 2005, Jane moved from the Netherlands back to Kent (near Deal) in England where she now lives.
Aside from writing children’s books, Jane spends a significant amount of time inspiring children to read and write. She frequently visits schools throughout the UK and Europe to do so.
Jane has also done support work for various charitable organizations including Ellenor Lions Children’s Hospice, Institute of Cancer Research
Institute of Cancer Research
The Institute of Cancer Research is a cancer research institute located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. The ICR was founded in 1909 as a research department of the Royal Marsden Hospital and joined the University of London in 2003...
(The Clapham Grand), Battersea Dogs and Cats Home
Battersea Dogs and Cats Home
Battersea Dogs & Cats Home is the UK's oldest and most famous home for dogs and cats and is situated in the Battersea area of London, England. It is financed by voluntary donations with an income of over £12.2 million in 2009.-History:...
and READ (promotes reading in Africa).
Awards
- Sheffield Children’s Book Award - Picture Book Category (Gilbert the Great) 2006, Highly Commended
- Norfolk Library and Information Service Children’s Book Award - Younger Category (Gilbert the Great) 2006, Bronze Star Winner
- Nottingham Children’s Book Award for 3-5's (Stuck in the Mud) 2008
Works
- Plodney Creeper, Supersloth (2001, ISBN 9780749745851)
- Sherman Swaps Shells (2001, ISBN 9780431024080)
- Only Tadpoles Have Tails' (2002, ISBN 9780099438700)
- Smoky Dragons (2002, ISBN 9780816774579)
- Tusk Trouble (2003, ISBN 9780340877258)
- Dino Dog (2004, ISBN 9780552550321)
- Gilbert the Great (2005, ISBN 9781402721694)
- The Amazing Adventures of Batbird (2005, ISBN 9780007186372)
- Prince Albert’s Birthday (2005, ISBN 9780198455790)
- I’m Not Wearing That! (2005, ISBN 9780198455547)
- Dippy’s Sleepover (2006, ISBN 9780764134258)
- Chewy Hughie (2006, ISBN 9780007186921)
- No Nits! (2006, ISBN 9780753412893)
- Squeaky Clean (2006, ISBN 9780749668051)
- Mole and the New Hole (2006, ISBN 9780007236008)
- Muck it Up! (2006, ISBN 9780007235834)
- Trumpet: the Little Elephant with a Big Temper (2006, ISBN 9781416904823)
- Scratching’s Catching! [USA version of No Nits!] (2007, ISBN 9780753459584)
- G.E.M. (2007, ISBN 9780099480129)
- Gilbert in Deep (2007, ISBN 9781402751257)
- The Best of Both Nests (2007, ISBN 9780807506684)
- Stuck in the Mud (2008, ISBN 9780802797582)
- Runny Honey (2008, ISBN 9780778738626)
- Knight Time (2008, ISBN 9781862305366)
- Eye, Eye Captain! (2008, ISBN 9781404849068)
- Gilbert the Hero (2010, ISBN 9781847382924)
- In conjunction with Random House Children's Books (The Battersea Dogs & Cats Home Series):
- Rusty's Story: Battersea Dogs & Cats Home (2010, ISBN 9781849411240)
- Misty's Story: Battersea Dogs & Cats Home (2010, ISBN 9781849411806)
- Daisy's Story: Battersea Dogs & Cats Home (2010, ISBN 9781849411790)
- In conjunction with Working Partners Ltd. (Dinosaur Cove Series):
- Attack of the Lizard King: Dinosaur Cove 1 (as Rex Stone, 2008, ISBN 9780192720924)
- March of the Armoured Beasts: Dinosaur Cove 3 (as Rex Stone, 2008, ISBN 9780192720948)
- Catching the Speedy Thief: Dinosaur Cove 5 (as Rex Stone, 2008, ISBN 9780192720962)
- Rescuing the Plated Lizard: Dinosaur Cove 7 (as Rex Stone, 2008, ISBN 9780192728364)
- Tracking the Gigantic Beast: Dinosaur Cove 9 ( as Rex Stone, 2009, ISBN 9780192728944)
- Finding the Deceptive Dinosaur: Dinosaur Cove 11 (as Rex Stone, 2009, ISBN 9780192728968)
- Journey to the Ice Age: Dinosaur Cove Double Length Edition (as Rex Stone, 2009, ISBN 9780192729279)
- Clash of the Monster Crocs: Dinosaur Cove 14 (as Rex Stone, 2010, ISBN 9780192729774)
- Rampage of the Hungry Giants: Dinosaur Cove 15 (as Rex Stone, 2010, ISBN 9780192729781)
- Battle of the Giants: Dinosaur Cove World Book Day Edition (as Rex Stone, 2010, ISBN 9780956287731)
- Swarm of the Fanged Lizards: Dinosaur Cove 17 (as Rex Stone, 2011, ISBN 9780192789884)
- Stalking the Fanned Predator: Dinosaur Cove 19 (as Rex Stone, to be published in 2011)
- In Conjunction with Working Partners Ltd. (Puddle the Naughtiest Puppy Series)
- Toyshop Trouble: Puddle the Naughtiest Puppy 2 (as Hayley Daze, 2010, ISBN 9781409303282)
- Rainforest Hide and Seek: Puddle the Naughtiest Puppy 4 (as Hayley Daze, 2010, ISBN 9781409303305)
- Magic Mayhem: Puddle the Naughtiest Puppy 6 (as Hayley Daze, 2010, ISBN 9781409303329)
- Animal Antics: Puddle the Naughtiest Puppy 8 (as Hayley Daze, 2010, ISBN 9781409304036)
- Star of the School: Puddle the Naughtiest Puppy 10 (as Hayley Daze, 2011 ISBN 9781409304067)
Organisations
- Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators' Group (British SCWBI)
- Deal Writers
- British Humanist AssociationBritish Humanist AssociationThe British Humanist Association is an organisation of the United Kingdom which promotes Humanism and represents "people who seek to live good lives without religious or superstitious beliefs." The BHA is committed to secularism, human rights, democracy, egalitarianism and mutual respect...
- Wildwood Trust