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The Winter Sleepwalker and Other Stories

by

Joan Aiken

Illustrated by Quentin Blake

This beautiful hardback volume brings together a selection of unusual and whimsical fairy-tales by classic children's author Joan Aiken, perfectly illustrated by Quentin Blake. Featuring everything from princesses and witches to sea kings, giant pink snakes and celestial football players, these are truly magical tales: sometimes funny, sometimes dark and frightening, but always thought-provoking and told in Aiken's distinctive storytelling voice. Witty and original, this is an enjoyable short story collection that would make a great Christmas gift, and is perfect for reading aloud on cold winter nights.

 

Publisher: Jonathan Cape
  • Quentin Blake

    Children's Laureate 1999-2001
    Quentin Blake was born in 1932 and read English at Cambridge, before attending Chelsea Art College. He has won many major prizes for illustration, including the Kate Greenaway Medal (1980) and the Red House Children's Book Award (1981) for Mister Magnolia. He is also the winner of the Hans Christian Andersen Award for Illustration and in 1990 was voted 'The Illustrator's Illustrator' by Observer Magazine. A tireless promoter of children's literature – and a long-time collaborator with roald Dahl –  Quentin Blake was awarded the OBE in 1988 and in 2005 he was awarded a CBE for services to Children's Literature. In the most recent New Year’s Honours list he has been knighted.

     

    Quentin was the inaugural Children's Laureate (1999-2001), an experience he recorded in his book Laureate's Progress. During his time in the role, he celebrated children's books and children's book illustration with a range of projects and exhibitions, and conceived the idea for the House of Illustration, the world's first centre dedicated to the art of illustration in all its forms.   

     

    Visit Quentin's website

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