We are absolutely delighted to confirm that Axel Scheffler – the illustrator of the Gruffalo books (and many others) has said he will come to our book festival on Saturday 10th May. We have been on tenterhooks after an initial discussion at the end of last year and then silence for a while.
Axel Scheffler was born in 1957 in Hamburg, Germany. At school, although always good at art, he never really considered a career in illustration. He began a course in History of Art in Hamburg and then moved to England to study illustration at the Bath Academy of Art where he acheived a first class degree.
Axel has achieved worldwide acclaim for his humorous illustrations, and his books have been translated into over 29 languages. He has enjoyed particular success in his award-winning picture book collaborations with Julia Donaldson. The Gruffalo, was published in March 1999 and has already become a modern classic, selling more than 2 million copies worldwide and translated into over 20 languages. It was nominated for the Kate Greenaway Medal, and it won the 1999 Smarties Gold Medal Award for picture books, and the 2000 Blue Peter Award for The Best Book to Read Aloud.
It was followed by Monkey Puzzle, also nominated for the Kate Greenaway Medal, and Room on the Broom which was published September 2001, and also won the 2002 Blue Peter Award for The Best Illustrated Book to Read Aloud.
Axel also continues to illustrate for other authors as well, including Ian Whybrow and David Henry Wilson. The Smartest Giant in Town was shortlisted for the Red House Children's Book Award, and the Snail and the Whale was published to great acclaim and won the 2005 Blue Peter Best Illustrated Book to Read Aloud Award.
But he does other things too, the Christmas before last he designed Gordon Brown's annual Christmas card!
Axel has recently become a Dad so we are particularly thrilled that he is willing to fit us into his busy schedule. Don’t tell the children ............. but we are hoping that the Gruffalo himself will make an appearance in his honour!
For more information on Axel please look at www.gruffalo.com.
Axel Scheffler was born in 1957 in Hamburg, Germany. At school, although always good at art, he never really considered a career in illustration. He began a course in History of Art in Hamburg and then moved to England to study illustration at the Bath Academy of Art where he acheived a first class degree.
Axel has achieved worldwide acclaim for his humorous illustrations, and his books have been translated into over 29 languages. He has enjoyed particular success in his award-winning picture book collaborations with Julia Donaldson. The Gruffalo, was published in March 1999 and has already become a modern classic, selling more than 2 million copies worldwide and translated into over 20 languages. It was nominated for the Kate Greenaway Medal, and it won the 1999 Smarties Gold Medal Award for picture books, and the 2000 Blue Peter Award for The Best Book to Read Aloud.
It was followed by Monkey Puzzle, also nominated for the Kate Greenaway Medal, and Room on the Broom which was published September 2001, and also won the 2002 Blue Peter Award for The Best Illustrated Book to Read Aloud.
Axel also continues to illustrate for other authors as well, including Ian Whybrow and David Henry Wilson. The Smartest Giant in Town was shortlisted for the Red House Children's Book Award, and the Snail and the Whale was published to great acclaim and won the 2005 Blue Peter Best Illustrated Book to Read Aloud Award.
But he does other things too, the Christmas before last he designed Gordon Brown's annual Christmas card!
Axel has recently become a Dad so we are particularly thrilled that he is willing to fit us into his busy schedule. Don’t tell the children ............. but we are hoping that the Gruffalo himself will make an appearance in his honour!
For more information on Axel please look at www.gruffalo.com.
1 comment:
What a fantastic line up of authors, illustrators, and activities. There is something for everyone here, and it's great to see new events - Spymaster and Fairyland Trust are sure to be hugely popular. And great that all the village schools and playgroups are being involved.
I haven't been involved this year, but know how much work goes into the Bookfest, so please join in and help if you can.
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