Lauren Child

Lauren Child grew up in Marlborough, Wiltshire. She is the middle of three sisters and both her parents are teachers. She went to Art School in Manchester and London and has had a variety of jobs from waitressing to designing exotic, elegant lamp shades and working as an artist’s assistant to Damien Hirst.

Lauren burst on to the children’s books scene in 1999 with two picture books, I WANT A PET and CLARICE BEAN – THAT’S ME. Her fresh and very funny books were an instant hit and in 2001 she was awarded the prestigious Kate Greenaway Medal for I WILL NOT EVER NEVER EAT A TOMATO, the first book to feature the now hugely popular Charlie & Lola.

In 2002 THAT PESKY RAT won the Gold Smarties Award in the 6-8 year category. Lauren also published her first novel in the same year, UTTERLY ME, CLARICE BEAN, which was a runaway success and has been sold in many foreign editions. A second novel, CLARICE BEAN SPELLS TROUBLE was published in 2004, and the third, CLARICE BEAN, DON'T LOOK NOW was published in Autumn 2006.

Quentin Blake selected Lauren for inclusion in the Magic Pencil Exhibition (British Library), a gathering of the very best of current British children’s illustrators - including Tony Ross, Angela Barrett and Raymond Briggs - that has been touring the world since 2002.

2005 saw the launch of the first 26-part animated series CHARLIE & LOLA on CBBC, produced by Tiger Aspect. A second series was launched in 2006, and a third in 2007. Rights to the TV series have been sold in over 30 countries.

Lauren has always been keen on children’s TV, especially the American shows from the 60s and 70s and is still inspired by them. She loves designing and making things and finds it exciting to see her drawings turned into objects. Other favourite things include the cinema, TV matinees starring Cary Grant, Alastair Cooke’s letter from America, small Italian cars, handbags, cardigans, travelling and being picked up from the airport. She enjoys looking round people’s houses, whether public or private, and since childhood has been passionate about dolls’ houses. This passion inspired Lauren's stunning retelling of Hans Christian Andersen's THE PRINCESS AND THE PEA on which she has worked with photographer Polly Borland.

A new edition of PIPPI LONGSTOCKING, illustrated by Lauren, was published by OUP in 2007 and in 2008 Lauren supplied a clever retelling of GOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE BEARS in a collaboration with Polly Borland and Emily Jenkins.

Once upon a time, on the edge of a big dark forest there lived a little girl called Goldilocks. You have probably heard of her? If so, you will know three things: she was small, she had lots of golden curls and she had far too much curiosity for her own good. So when Goldilocks discovers an intriguing wooden cottage deep in the forest, she just can't resist peeking inside. Now why would there be one, two, three of everything ...?Lauren Child brings her trademark innovative approach to this wonderfully warm and witty retelling of the classic cautionary tale, and adds her own clever twist. Following the success of "The Princess and the Pea", she once again joins forces with award-winning portrait photographer Polly Borland, whose stunning photography brings this truly original picture book startlingly to life. They are joined by a talented theatre designer, Emily Jenkins, who has designed and created an enchanting hand-crafted miniature world. The sets for the book took over a year to make.The doll-sized cottage, complete with winding staircase, stands about a meter tall. Real turf was grown for the roof. Special wallpaper and fabrics were designed and printed, featuring woodland motifs. Exquisite miniature furniture, including the three bears' beds, chairs and porridge bowls, were carved, crafted and painted by Emily and her team of designers. Tiny slippers were sewn, cushions stuffed and bed linen edged and folded. The tiny spoons were carved specially - even the porridge is real!The cast of characters were made by world-famous doll maker, R. John Wright, whose dolls and bears sell to collectors all over the world. Goldilocks is 30 centimeters tall and made of soft felt with hand-painted features; her golden locks are made of the softest mohair. She arrived from America complete with a tiny hand-woven basket of felt daisies, which you can see her carrying in the book. Mother, Father and Baby Bear are all made from the softest fur and have tiny resin claws. Father Bear arrived with a hand-carved wooden pipe, which, if you look very closely, you can spot in the pictures, warming by the fire.