Jeanne Willis
Jeanne wrote her first book when she was five years old and hasn't stopped writing since. She now has over eighty titles to her name, including picture books, novels and television scripts. She has also won numerous awards, including the Children's Book Award, the Sheffield Children's Book Award and the Silver Smarties Prize. Her teen novel, Naked Without a Hat (Faber) was shortlisted for the Whitbread Award in 2004. She often takes inspiration from dreams and interesting conversations with strangers.
Books
#Goldilocks
Author: Jeanne Willis
Illustrator: Tony Ross
Publisher: Andersen Press
Interest age: 4-8
Reading age: 6+
This cautionary tale about the dangers of oversharing on social media is hilarious and timely, and it should be installed in every classroom in every junior and secondary school.
Big Bad Bun
Author: Jeanne Willis Illustrator: Tony Ross
Publisher: Andersen Press
Interest age: 3+
Reading age: 6+
Bun has run away from home and been accepted into the fearsome Hell Bunnies, renowned for their bad behaviour.
Chicken Clicking
Author: Jeanne Willis
Illustrator: Tony Ross
Publisher: Andersen Press
Interest age: 4-8
Reading age: 5+
A perfect introduction to internet safety for young children, wrapped up in an imaginative story about a thrill-seeking chick.
Dinosaur Olympics
Author: Jeanne Willis
Illustrator: Arthur Robins
Publisher: Piccadilly Press
Interest age: 7+
Reading age: 7+
Fast-paced, crammed full of jokes and dinosaur word-play Willis' Downtown Dinosaur series is a perfect match for energetic readers.
Don't Go There
Author: Jeanne Willis Illustrator: Hrefna Bragadottir
Publisher: Andersen Press
Interest age: 3-5
A little girl is excited when a Martian comes to play, but there's a problem - he's not toilet trained yet! Little ones will love this charming, funny story about learning to use the loo.
Frockodile
Author: Jeanne Willis Illustrator: Stephanie Laberis
Publisher: Hodder Children's Books
Interest age: 4-7
Reading age: 6+
Cliff the crocodile discovers a slinky frock and some fabulous peals and heels, and feels divine in them! But when the hyenas laugh at him, he starts to worry about others finding out his secret. A funny picture book that looks at inclusion and acceptance with a light, expert touch.
Killer Gorilla
Author: Jeanne Willis Illustrator: Tony Ross
Publisher: Andersen Press
Interest age: 2+
Reading age: 3+
Mouse begins a perilous search for her lost baby, and just when things look utterly bleak: out jumps a ‘Killer Gorilla’.
Old Dog
Author: Jeanne Willis Illustrator: Tony Ross
Publisher: Andersen Press
Interest age: 5+
Reading age: 6+
The Young Pups, like many of their young readers, shy away from visiting Grandpa Dog because they think he’s old, smelly, embarrassing and boring.
Susan Laughs
Author: Jeanne Willis Illustrator: Tony Ross
Publisher: Andersen
Interest age: 3+
Reading age: 4+
Susan can do so many things - she can laugh, sing, fly, dance, swim and much more. The final page of this wonderful book reveals that Susan is in a wheelchair, showing that 'disabled' doesn't mean 'disadvantaged'.
The Nanny Goat's Kid
Author: Jeanne Willis Illustrator: Tony Ross
Publisher: Andersen Press
Interest age: 4+
Reading age: 4+
The tiger cub is different to the other Kids and the sisters criticise the way Nanny Goat is bringing him up.