Happy 90th Birthday Shirley Hughes! Today is Shirley Hughes’ 90th birthday, and I wanted to use this wonderful occasion to look at one of my favourite books of hers, Up and Up!, which was first published in 1979, and was re-released this year by Red Fox. We are accustomed to Hughes’ splendid timeless paintings and wonderful double-spreads …
Shirley Hughes (Red Fox) The summer holidays are getting close (or might have even started for some), so what more delightful than to dive into a picturebook which oozes the simple pleasures of summer? Penguin Random House’s inspired decision to reissue f Lucy and Tom at the Seaside is much welcome, particularly as it coincides with the …
Having read Dixie O’Day in the Fast Lane, (see my review here) I knew just how adventurous Dixie and Percy were. However, I could hardly contain my surprise when they swung by our corner of Somerset and asked if they could take my little house out for tea. How chivalrous of them to do so! And here they are …
Shirley Hughes (text) & Clara Vulliamy (illustrations) (Bodley Head) Dixie loves his car and takes good care of it. He loves taking it for a spin with his friend Percy so naturally when the All Day Race is announced, they immediately decide to take part, hoping it is going to be a fun adventure. But …
For many little people across the land, life is about to change forever. Starting school is one of the great landmarks of childhood, and though many children will appear unperturbed and quite confident, it is always wise to address the change in preparation. Thankfully, there are plenty of wonderful books to help parents do just …
Today’s post is really special to me. Unlike many of you, no doubt, I did not grow up with Shirley Hughes’ books as they were not translated in French when I was little. I discovered her work at university, while studying children’s librarianship. I was won over straight away, enchanted by the utter Englishness of her …
Shirley Hughes(Walker Books) Bronwen and Dylan have just moved to Liverpool from the Welsh countryside. Their father has died in a mining accident and their mother has uprooted them to the city so she can find work to support the family. She takes on laundry to wash soon after and often has to leave the children home-alone while she pushes …
