Jon Blake (author)

Last updated

Jon Blake
Born1954 (age 6970)
Mortimer, Berkshire
England
NationalityBritish

Jon Blake (born 1954 in Mortimer, Berkshire) [1] is the author of over sixty works for children and teenagers. He was brought up in Southampton and has lived in Cardiff since 1987.

His works include the picture book "You're A Hero, Daley B" (illustrated by Axel Scheffler, worldwide sales of over 200,000), as well as "Little Stupendo", which was shortlisted for the Red House Children's Book Award. [2]

In 1995, Jon's TV play 'Life' was shortlisted for a Writers Guild Award, while in 2002 he won a BBC Talent award [3] for his adult radio sitcom "Degrees R Us", which was broadcast on BBC Radio Wales. In 2017 'Thimble Monkey Superstar', featuring a narrator with cerebral palsy based on Jon's son, was shortlisted for the Lollies (Laugh Out Loud awards). [4] 'Thimble Monkey Superstar', published by Cardiff's Firefly Press, [5] was the eighth of Jon's books to be illustrated by Martin Chatterton. [6]

Jon is particularly noted for original and anarchic humour, [7] typified by "Stinky Finger's House of Fun" and the subsequent "House of Fun" series illustrated by David Roberts. However, he has also written radical young adult fiction, such as anti-privatisation thriller "The Last Free Cat". [8] and an adult novel, '69ers', based on the 1969 (Bob Dylan) Isle of Wight Festival. [9]

Related Research Articles

Sir Quentin Saxby Blake, is an English cartoonist, caricaturist, illustrator and children's writer. He has illustrated over 300 books, including 18 written by Roald Dahl, which are among his most popular works. For his lasting contribution as a children's illustrator he won the biennial international Hans Christian Andersen Award in 2002, the highest recognition available to creators of children's books. From 1999 to 2001, he was the inaugural British Children's Laureate. He is a patron of the Association of Illustrators.

The Carnegie Medal for Illustration is a British award that annually recognises "distinguished illustration in a book for children". It is conferred upon the illustrator by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) which inherited it from the Library Association. CILIP is currently partnered with the audio technology company Yoto in connection with the award, though their sponsorship and the removal of Greenaway’s name from the medal proved controversial.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malorie Blackman</span> British writer (born 1962)

Malorie Blackman is a British writer who held the position of Children's Laureate from 2013 to 2015. She primarily writes literature and television drama for children and young adults. She has used science fiction to explore social and ethical issues, for example, her Noughts and Crosses series uses the setting of a fictional alternative Britain to explore racism. Blackman has been the recipient of many honours for her work, including the 2022 PEN Pinter Prize.

Elizabeth Kay is an English writer. She is the author of The Divide trilogy, a series of children's fantasy novels, originally published by Chicken House Press, then picked up by Scholastic Books.

Catherine Fisher is a Welsh poet and children's novelist. She has also worked as a school and university teacher.

Malcolm Charles Peet was an English writer and illustrator best known for young adult fiction. He has won several honours including the Brandford Boase, the Carnegie Medal and the Guardian Prize, British children's literature awards that recognise "year's best" books. Three of his novels feature football and the fictional South American sports journalist Paul Faustino. The Murdstone Trilogy (2014) and "Mr Godley's Phantom" were his first works aimed at adult readers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oisín McGann</span> Irish writer and illustrator, mainly speculative fiction for young people

Oisín McGann is an Irish writer and illustrator, who writes in a range of genres for children and teenagers, mainly science fiction and fantasy, and has illustrated many of his own short story books for younger readers. As of 5/10/22, his most recent book is about climate change

David Ian Roberts is a British children's illustrator. He has illustrated a large number of books in both black and white and colour. His black and white work mainly features in books for older readers and he has worked with such well-known authors as Philip Ardagh, G.P. Taylor, Chris Priestley, Mick Jackson, Susan Price, Jon Blake and Tom Baker. Mouse Noses on Toast by Daren King won the Nestle Smarties Book Prize in 2006, after which King and Roberts collaborated on other titles including Peter the Penguin Pioneer, Sensible Hare and the Case of Carrots and The Frightfully Friendly Ghosties series.

Tony Bradman is an English writer of children's books and short speculative fiction best known for the Dilly the Dinosaur book series. He is the author of more than 50 books for young people published by multiple houses including Alfred A. Knopf, Methuen Publishing, Puffin Books, and [[HarperCollins]

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jane E. Clarke</span> English writer of childrens books and poetry

Jane Elizabeth Clarke is an English writer of children's books and poetry. Her best known books include Gilbert the Greatillustrated by Charles Fuge, and Neon Leon illustrated by Britta Teckentrup. Jane has published more than 80 books, including the Dr. Kittycat series for Oxford University Press, and children's reading scheme books used in schools. CBeebies Bedtime Stories have featured two of Jane's books, Stuck in the Mud and Knight Time. Stuck in the Mud is also featured with a US Scholastic Book Club edition which includes a CD audio edition. This audio edition is produced by Beatstreet Productions, NYC, directed by Cheryl Smith, read by Cassandra Morris and features music composed by Michael Abbott.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Ackroyd</span> English biographer

Peter Ackroyd is an English biographer, novelist and critic with a specialist interest in the history and culture of London. For his novels about English history and culture and his biographies of, among others, William Blake, Charles Dickens, T. S. Eliot, Charlie Chaplin and Sir Thomas More, he won the Somerset Maugham Award and two Whitbread Awards. He is noted for the volume of work he has produced, the range of styles therein, his skill at assuming different voices, and the depth of his research.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jon Klassen</span> Canadian-born writer and illustrator

Jon Klassen is a Canadian writer and illustrator of children's books and an animator. He won both the American Caldecott Medal and the British Kate Greenaway Medal for children's book illustration, recognizing the 2012 picture book This Is Not My Hat, which he also wrote. He is the first person to win both awards for the same work.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liz Pichon</span> British author and illustrator of childrens books

Liz Pichon is a British author and illustrator of children's books. She is best known for her Tom Gates series of "satirical realist comedy fiction", which has sold 16.5 million copies and has been translated into 44 languages across 47 international markets.

Wendy Meddour is a British writer, illustrator and academic. Her debut children's novel A Hen in the Wardrobe was published by Frances Lincoln Publishers in 2012. The book was shortlisted for the Branford Boase Award and was named one of the 'Best 50 Culturally Diverse Books since the 1950s' by The Guardian.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paula Green (poet)</span> New Zealand poet and childrens author

Paula Joy Green is a New Zealand poet and children's author.

<i>Big Cat, Little Cat</i> 2017 picture book by Elisha Cooper

Big Cat, Little Cat is a 2017 children's picture book written by Elisha Cooper. It was published by Roaring Brook Press, a subsidiary of Macmillan Books. In the story, a large, white cat welcomes a new black cat into a family. The white cat then dies, and the cycle begins anew when the family adopts a new kitten. Cooper was inspired to write the story after his family experienced a similar situation. Critics praised his illustrations, for their ability to help further the story's messages and themes. These monochromatic illustrations were different than the style Cooper normally employed when illustrating a book. The book was well-reviewed, and received a 2018 Caldecott Honor.

Elizabeth Pulford is a writer of fiction, poetry and non-fiction for children, teenagers and adults. Several of her books have been shortlisted for awards, and many of her short stories have won or been highly commended in national competitions. She lives in Outram, Otago, New Zealand.

Rachel Bright is an English author and illustrator who resides in Dorset with her partner and two daughters.

<i>Hoot Owl, Master of Disguise</i> Book by Sean Taylor

Hoot Owl, Master of Disguise is a children's picture book by Sean Taylor, illustrated by Jean Jullien.

Holly Jackson is a British author of young adult novels. She is best known for her Good Girl's Guide to Murder series.

References

  1. "The author – The Last Free Cat". 10 March 2008.
  2. "Private Site".
  3. "BBC - Press Office - Entertainment programme ideas". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  4. "Announcing the Lollies shortlist!". Scholastic Blog. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  5. "Firefly Press: Independent UK Children's & YA Book Publisher".
  6. "Martin Chatterton".
  7. "Blake, Jon 1954– | Encyclopedia.com". www.encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  8. "Reviews – The Last Free Cat". 11 March 2008.
  9. "Home". iow69.wordpress.com.