Shirley Hughes
Author and illustrator Shirley Hughes OBE was the first ever BookTrust Lifetime Achievement Award winner.
During her eighty-year career she wrote and illustrated over 200 cherished children’s books, including the celebrated Alfie stories, and later collaborating with her daughter, Clara Vulliamy, on the Dixie O’Day series. Shirley died in February 2022, at the age of 94.
Take a look at just a snapshot of some of Shirley's most amazing and celebrated work below.
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Dogger
Author: Shirley Hughes
Publisher: Random House
Interest age: 2-5
Dogger is Dave's special toy. So when Dogger gets lost at the funfair, Dave is desolate. Will they find each other again? Exploring concepts of love, loss and kindness, this classic tale will be cherished by the entire family and will particularly appeal to any child who has a favourite toy.
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Alfie Wins a Prize
Author: Shirley Hughes
Publisher: Red Fox
Interest age: 3-5
Alfie's painting at the Big School's Harvest Fair is judged worthy of one of the main prizes. But Alfie is more taken with the consolation prize...
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Alfie and the Big Boys
Author: Shirley Hughes
Publisher: Random House
Interest age: 3-5
Children will relish this warm tale of everyday life with illustrations overflowing with colour and vitality.
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Jonadab and Rita
Author: Shirley Hughes
Publisher: Red Fox
Interest age: 3+
Reading age: 7+Jonadab is an old, neglected donkey made of worn grey velvet. He has one good friend in the shy toy mouse, Rita. Jonadab also has a secret - he can fly.
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The Lion and the Unicorn
Author: Shirley Hughes
Publisher: Random House
Interest age: 7-11
Reading age: 7+Lenny is bullied by the children at his new school, but draws courage from a badge his father gave him, and comes to terms with his fear and loneliness when he befriends Mick.
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Don't want to go!
Author: Shirley Hughes
Publisher: Bodley Head
Interest age: 3+
Reading age: 8+Lily's mum is in bed with flu and dad has to go to work, so Lily must spend the day at Melanie's house. She doesn't want to go, but she soon has fun playing with Ringo the dog.
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The Christmas Eve Ghost
Author: Shirley Hughes
Publisher: Walker Books
Reading age: 6+In 1930s Liverpool, young Bronwen and Dylan find kindness from an unexpected source when they are frightened by what they think is a ghost on Christmas Eve.
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Lucy and Tom at the Seaside
Author: Shirley Hughes
Publisher: Random House
Interest age: 3-6
Reading age: 5+Follow a happy family day out by the seaside as Tom and Lucy enjoy making sandcastles, looking in rock pools and going on a donkey ride
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Alfie Gives a Hand
Author: Shirley Hughes
Publisher: Red Fox
Interest age: 3-5
Shirley Hughes' much-loved Alfie goes to his first birthday party in this lovely picture book for pre-school children.
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Hero on a Bicycle
Author: Shirley Hughes
Publisher: Walker Books
Interest age: 11+
Reading age: 11+The first novel from much-loved author and illustrator Shirley Hughes is a thrilling and moving story about a boy and his bicycle, set against a dramatic background of war-torn Italy
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Bobbo Goes to School
Author: Shirley Hughes
Publisher: The Bodley Head Ltd
Interest age: 2+
Reading age: 6+Lily and mum are worried when Bobbo the toy dog goes missing - but he soon turns up in a school playground.
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All About Alfie
Author: Shirley Hughes
Publisher: Red Fox
Interest age: 3-6
Reading age: 6+In a brand new collection of stories and poems, Alfie has a spooky late-night adventure with an owl and introduces us to his secret den in the garden.
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Dixie O'Day: In the Fast Lane
Author: Shirley Hughes Illustrator: Clara Vulliamy
Publisher: The Bodley Head
Interest age: 5+
Reading age: 7+Mother and daughter Shirley Hughes and Clara Vulliamy have teamed up for the first time for this sweet story, the first in a series about canine driver Dixie O'Day and his friend, Percy.
