Jess Stockham
Jess Stockham was born in 1957 in Luton and lived in a village in Hertfordshire until she was 17. She completed a foundation year at Watford Art College and then left full time education to move to Exeter and become a waitress. She then moved to West Yorkshire and started a leather goods business with her husband, Steve. She lived there for 18 years and had two sons, Matt and Ed.
In 1990 she started illustrating full-time for various popular women’s magazines and mother and baby publications. In 1995 she moved to West Wales with her family where she has lived and illustrated for the past 12 years.
Books
Having Fun!
Author: Jess Stockham
Publisher: Child's Play
Interest age: 0+
Reading age: 5+
A lift-the-flap book, with animals hidden behind pictures of happy toddlers, splashing like dolphins, playing like dogs and sliding like otters.
It's Raining! It's Pouring! We're Exploring!
Author: Polly Peters
Illustrator: Jess Stockham
Publisher: Child's Play
Interest age: 0+
Reading age: 5+
Three children are stuck inside while it's raining. Luckily they have plenty of imaginative ideas to turn a potentially dull and dreary day into a series of exhilarating adventures.
Making Friends!
Author: Jess Stockham
Publisher: Child's Play
Interest age: 0+
Reading age: 4+
This book is full of great animal pictures and lift-the-flap pages. It’s a friendly and colourful way to encourage children to enjoy sharing and have fun.
Stone Soup
Author: Jess Stockham
Publisher: Child's Play
Interest age: 2+
Reading age: 4+
This beautiful picture book retells the traditional story, complete with ‘flip-up’ flaps which encourage prediction, involvement and discussion.
The Ding-Dong Bag
Author: Polly Peters Illustrator: Jess Stockham
Publisher: Child's Play
Interest age: 3+
Reading age: 5+
The fast-moving and rhythmic text make this great book perfect for reading aloud, and a subtle arm splint on one of the boys is typical of Child’s Play’s inclusive approach to books.