Julia Donaldson
Encyclopedia
Julia Catherine Donaldson MBE
(born 16 September 1948) is an English
writer
and playwright
, best known as author of The Gruffalo
and other children's books, many illustrated by Axel Scheffler
. Of her 157 published works, 56 are widely available in bookshops. The remaining 101 are intended for school use and include her "Songbirds" phonic reading scheme which is part of the Oxford Reading Tree. Her book The Snail and the Whale was named by Gordon Brown
as one of his favourites. She originally wrote songs for children's television, but has concentrated on writing books since one of her songs, A Squash and a Squeeze, was published in 1993. She has also written a number of plays
for school drama groups. Donaldson has been appointed Children's Laureate
for 2011 to 2013, succeeding Anthony Browne
.
, London with her younger sister, Mary. The family occupied a Victorian
three-storey house near Hampstead Heath
where the siblings liked to play. Her parents, sister, and their pet cat Geoffrey lived on the ground floor, an aunt and uncle lived on the first floor, and her granny
lived on the second floor.
Donaldson's father studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics at the University of Oxford before serving in World War II, being a prisoner of war for 5 years. He went on to work in the field of genetics at the Maudesley Hospital, producing some important twin studies, and was also a keen amateur cellist. He contracted polio when Julia was six years old and he was initially hospitalised. His attempts to walk with crutches and callipers were unsuccessful, so he had to resort to using a wheelchair. This was at a time when there were not many aids and facilities for the handicapped in public places, but he was able to continue working with help from his wife who assisted with some arduous physical tasks such as transfers between car and wheelchair.
Donaldson studied Drama and French at the University of Bristol, and as part of her course spent several months in Paris, where she went busking with a female friend. The duo were subsequently joined by their friend Malcolm, a medical student who played a left-handed guitar and sang, and who would later become Donaldson's spouse.
working in Glasgow
, Scotland, and the couple reside in Bearsden
, East Dunbartonshire
. Their first child, Hamish, was diagnosed with a schizoaffective disorder
when he was about 17 years old, having had a psychotic episode
. He committed suicide in 2003, aged 25, at a time when he was drinking alcohol heavily. Their second son is a research fellow at Oxford University and their youngest one a student at Dundee University. Her father died of a heart attack
at 59.
Donaldson is a patron of ArtLink Central, a charity which helps artists to work with disadvantaged people.
Donaldson was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2011 Birthday Honours
for services to literature.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 16 September 1948) is an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
and playwright
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
, best known as author of The Gruffalo
The Gruffalo
The Gruffalo is a children's book by writer and playwright Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler, that tells the story of a mouse's walk in the woods...
and other children's books, many illustrated by Axel Scheffler
Axel Scheffler
Axel Scheffler is a book illustrator best known for his cartoon-like pictures for children's books, particularly The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo's Child written by Julia Donaldson.-Life and career:...
. Of her 157 published works, 56 are widely available in bookshops. The remaining 101 are intended for school use and include her "Songbirds" phonic reading scheme which is part of the Oxford Reading Tree. Her book The Snail and the Whale was named by Gordon Brown
Gordon Brown
James Gordon Brown is a British Labour Party politician who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party from 2007 until 2010. He previously served as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Labour Government from 1997 to 2007...
as one of his favourites. She originally wrote songs for children's television, but has concentrated on writing books since one of her songs, A Squash and a Squeeze, was published in 1993. She has also written a number of plays
Play (theatre)
A play is a form of literature written by a playwright, usually consisting of scripted dialogue between characters, intended for theatrical performance rather than just reading. There are rare dramatists, notably George Bernard Shaw, who have had little preference whether their plays were performed...
for school drama groups. Donaldson has been appointed Children's Laureate
Children's Laureate
Children's Laureate is a position awarded in the UK once every two years to a distinguished writer or illustrator of children's books. A biannual bursary of £10,000 is offered...
for 2011 to 2013, succeeding Anthony Browne
Anthony Browne (author)
Anthony Edward Tudor Browne is a British author and illustrator of children's books, with nearly forty titles to his name. He was the previous Children's Laureate.-Life and work:...
.
Early life
Donaldson was born in 1948 and brought up in HampsteadHampstead
Hampstead is an area of London, England, north-west of Charing Cross. Part of the London Borough of Camden in Inner London, it is known for its intellectual, liberal, artistic, musical and literary associations and for Hampstead Heath, a large, hilly expanse of parkland...
, London with her younger sister, Mary. The family occupied a Victorian
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
three-storey house near Hampstead Heath
Hampstead Heath
Hampstead Heath is a large, ancient London park, covering . This grassy public space sits astride a sandy ridge, one of the highest points in London, running from Hampstead to Highgate, which rests on a band of London clay...
where the siblings liked to play. Her parents, sister, and their pet cat Geoffrey lived on the ground floor, an aunt and uncle lived on the first floor, and her granny
Grandparent
Grandparents are the parents of a person's own parent, whether that be a father or a mother. Every sexually-reproducing creature who is not a genetic chimera has a maximum of four genetic grandparents, eight genetic great-grandparents, sixteen genetic great-great-grandparents, etc...
lived on the second floor.
Donaldson's father studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics at the University of Oxford before serving in World War II, being a prisoner of war for 5 years. He went on to work in the field of genetics at the Maudesley Hospital, producing some important twin studies, and was also a keen amateur cellist. He contracted polio when Julia was six years old and he was initially hospitalised. His attempts to walk with crutches and callipers were unsuccessful, so he had to resort to using a wheelchair. This was at a time when there were not many aids and facilities for the handicapped in public places, but he was able to continue working with help from his wife who assisted with some arduous physical tasks such as transfers between car and wheelchair.
Donaldson studied Drama and French at the University of Bristol, and as part of her course spent several months in Paris, where she went busking with a female friend. The duo were subsequently joined by their friend Malcolm, a medical student who played a left-handed guitar and sang, and who would later become Donaldson's spouse.
Personal life
Donaldson's husband is a consultant paediatricianPediatrics
Pediatrics or paediatrics is the branch of medicine that deals with the medical care of infants, children, and adolescents. A medical practitioner who specializes in this area is known as a pediatrician or paediatrician...
working in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, Scotland, and the couple reside in Bearsden
Bearsden
Bearsden ) is a town in East Dunbartonshire, Scotland. It lies on the northwestern fringe of Greater Glasgow, approximately from the City Centre, and is effectively a suburb, with housing development coinciding with the introduction of a railway line in 1863, and from where the town gets its name...
, East Dunbartonshire
East Dunbartonshire
This article is about the East Dunbartonshire council area of Scotland. See also East Dunbartonshire .East Dunbartonshire is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland. It borders onto the north-west of the City of Glasgow. It contains many of the suburbs of Glasgow as well as containing many of...
. Their first child, Hamish, was diagnosed with a schizoaffective disorder
Schizoaffective disorder
Schizoaffective disorder is a psychiatric diagnosis that describes a mental disorder characterized by recurring episodes of elevated or depressed mood, or of simultaneously elevated and depressed mood, that alternate with, or occur together with, distortions in perception.Schizoaffective disorder...
when he was about 17 years old, having had a psychotic episode
Psychosis
Psychosis means abnormal condition of the mind, and is a generic psychiatric term for a mental state often described as involving a "loss of contact with reality"...
. He committed suicide in 2003, aged 25, at a time when he was drinking alcohol heavily. Their second son is a research fellow at Oxford University and their youngest one a student at Dundee University. Her father died of a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
at 59.
Donaldson is a patron of ArtLink Central, a charity which helps artists to work with disadvantaged people.
Donaldson was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2011 Birthday Honours
2011 Birthday Honours
The Birthday Honours 2011 for the Commonwealth Realms were announced on 7 June 2011 in New Zealand and 11 June 2011 in United Kingdom to celebrate the Queen's Birthday of 2011.-Privy Councillors:...
for services to literature.
Works
- A Squash and a Squeeze (1993, ISBN 1-4050-0477-0)
- Books and Crooks (Play) (1998, ISBN 978-0748736560)
- The GruffaloThe GruffaloThe Gruffalo is a children's book by writer and playwright Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler, that tells the story of a mouse's walk in the woods...
(1999, ISBN 0-333-71093-2) - Monkey PuzzleMonkey Puzzle (book)Monkey Puzzle by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler is an illustrated children's book.-Plot:The story revolves around a child monkey who has lost its mother in the jungle. The monkey is then assisted to find its mother by a butterfly, however the butterfly keeps suggesting incorrect animals as the...
(2000, ISBN 0-333-72001-6) - Room on the Broom (2002, ISBN 0-333-90338-2)
- The Smartest Giant in Town (2002, ISBN 0-333-96396-2)
- Night Monkey, Day Monkey (2002, ISBN 978-0749748937)
- The Snail and the Whale (2003, ISBN 0-333-98224-X)
- Hide and Seek Pig (Tales from Acorn Wood) (2003, ISBN 978-0333966259)
- Postman Bear (Tales from Acorn Wood) (2003, ISBN 978-0333966242)
- Fox's Socks (Tales from Acorn Wood) (2003, ISBN 978-0333966235)
- Rabbit's Nap (Tales from Acorn Wood) (2003, ISBN 978-1405217880)
- The Gruffalo's ChildThe Gruffalo's ChildThe Gruffalo's Child by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler is the bestselling sequel to The Gruffalo.The story is about the Gruffalo's daughter who, despite her father's stories, sets off into the woods to discover the 'big bad mouse', which is the only thing her father is afraid of.Throughout her...
(2004, ISBN 1-4050-2045-8) - The Giants and the Joneses (2004, ISBN 0-8050-7805-3)
- The Magic Paintbrush (2004, ISBN 978-0333964439)
- Charlie Cook's Favourite Book (2005, ISBN 978-1405034692)
- Sharing a Shell (2005, ISBN 978-1405020480)
- The Princess and the Wizard (2006, ISBN 978-1405053136)
- Rosie's Hat (2006, ISBN 978-1405000079 )
- Follow the Swallow (2007, ISBN 978-1405217880)
- Princess mirror-Belle (3 parts)(2005)
- Tiddler (2007, ISBN 978-0439943772)
- Tyrannosaurus Drip (2007, ISBN 978-1405090001)
- Taby McTat (2009, ISBN 978-1407109244)
- The TrollThe TrollThe Troll by Julia Donaldson and David Roberts is a children's story about a troll and some pirates. The troll in this story is based on the troll from the Three Billy Goats Gruff fairy tale. However, in this story, no goats ever cross the troll's bridge and he is forced to survive on fish that he...
(2009, ISBN 978-0230017931) - ZogZOGZog or ZOG may refer to:*ZOG , an early hypertext system developed at Carnegie Mellon University during the 1970s*Zog of Albania , King of Albania from 1928 to 1939...
(2010, ISBN 9781407115566)