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Quentin Blake's Nursery Rhyme Book

by Quentin Blake

Interest age: 1+
Reading age: 6+

Published by Red Fox, 2012

  • Classics
  • Funny
  • Picture books
  • Poetry and rhyme

About this book

This collection of short, lesser-known nursery rhymes from the 1950s introduces children to handy spandy Jack-a-Dandy choosing candy; Gregory Griggs and his 27 wigs; the Pussy Cat who ate the dumplings and Terence McDiddler the three-stringed fiddler who can charm fish from the sea, as well as a host of other intriguing characters.

These funny nonsense rhymes are brought to life by Quentin Blake's expressive and characterful illustrations. Readers will enjoy exploring the pictures, spotting the surprised expression on the face of Little Betsy Baker, the smiling cats and the smirking pigs, as well as what is happening in the background of each of these lively illustrations. Ideal for enjoying together at home, this book is also ideal for enthusing younger children in the primary classroom.

About the author

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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