Lauren Child
Lauren Child is a multi-award-winning, bestselling writer and artist whose books are known and loved the world over. She is the creator of characters including Clarice Bean, Ruby Redfort and Charlie and Lola.
Lauren Child has been at the forefront of innovation in children's books for over 15 years and has raised the profile of illustration as an artform for all ages. She's worked with mixed media, pioneered text as an integral part of illustration and collaborated with artists across different fields.
Lauren is also a passionate advocate for visual literacy and the importance of quality picture books for children. She is also passionate about encouraging creativity in children and adults. She is a trustee of House of Illustration, a gallery set up by Sir Quentin Blake. She has been awarded an MBE for her work and was appointed as an Artist for Peace by Unesco in 2008.
Books
Clarice Bean, That's Me
Author: Lauren Child
Publisher: Orchard Books
Interest age: 6+
Reading age: 7+
Clarice Bean gives us a snapshot of her life and family in the book that launched a bestselling series.
I Will Not Ever Never Eat a Tomato
Author: Lauren Child
Publisher: Hachette
Interest age: 4+
Reading age: 5+
Charlie tricks his younger sister, Lola - an extremely fussy eater - into eating all her least favourite foods.
My Uncle is a Hunkle, Says Clarice Bean
Author: Lauren Child
Publisher: Orchard Books
Interest age: 6+
Reading age: 7+
Clarice Bean's mum is dubious about letting fireman Uncle Ted babysit, as things tend to go wrong when he's around.
Pippi Longstocking
Author: Astrid Lindgren
Translator: Tiina Nunnally
Illustrator: Lauren Child
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Interest age: 6+
Reading age: 8+
Follow Pippi Longstocking on her amazing adventures as she moves into Villa Villekulla with a horse, a monkey, and a big suitcase of gold coins.
Ruby Redfort: Blink and You Die
Author: Lauren Child
Publisher: Harper Collins
Interest age: 10+
Reading age: 10+
Ace undercover agent and code-cracker Ruby Redfort returns for her final adventure. Agent Bradley Baker is dead and a traitor is also suspected amongst the Spectrum agents.
Ruby Redfort: Feel the Fear
Author: Lauren Child
Publisher: HarperCollins Children’s Books
Interest age: 10-12
Reading age: 10-12
The fourth in the Ruby Redfort series is just as full of high jinks as the rest, and has a welcome focus on Ruby’s physical adventuring as well as her intelligence. As ever, the end pages feature additional puzzle/activity content.
Ruby Redfort: Pick Your Poison
Author: Lauren Child
Publisher: HarperCollins Children’s Books
Interest age: 10-12
Reading age: 10-12
The penultimate instalment of this phenomenally popular series sees our codebreaking, wisecracking and, this time, kung-fu fighting heroine on form in a clever, funny book that moves the overall story one more step towards the big conclusion.
That Pesky Rat
Author: Lauren Child
Publisher: Orchard Books
Interest age: 4+
Reading age: 5+
Pesky Rat lives in Dustbin Number 3, Grubby Alley. People call him 'That Pesky Rat', but he longs for a real name, a home and someone to care for him.
The Princess and the Pea
Author: Lauren Child Illustrator: Lauren Child and Polly Borland
Publisher: Puffin
Interest age: 5+
Reading age: 7+
Lauren Child's highly imaginative retelling of this well-known fairy tale is sure to become a new classic in its own right.
Utterly Me, Clarice Bean
Author: Lauren Child
Publisher: Orchard Books
Interest age: 7+
Reading age: 7+
Clarice Bean finds family life exhausting and exasperating, and school is no better; particularly when the teacher, Mrs Wilburton, sets an 'utterly dreary' book project.
Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Book?
Author: Lauren Child
Publisher: Hachette
Interest age: 6+
Reading age: 6+
Lauren Child uses a classic fairy-tale formula for this ingenious and original tale. The quirky, hilarious, collage illustrations are what make this picture book special.