Julia Donaldson Biography
Julia Donaldson is the highly talented author of some of the best-loved children’s books in the world. Born in London in 1948, she grew up with her younger sister Mary who she loved to create imaginary characters with.
She started her career as a singer-songwriter, writing mainly for children’s television. One of these songs,
A Squash and a Squeeze, was made into her first book in 1993 in collaboration with the illustrator,
Axel Scheffler. The two have since gone on to produce a large number of bestselling picture books together, many of which have also been adapted into Julia Donaldson films on the BBC, such as
The Highway Rat, Stick Man and
The Gruffalo. The Gruffalo story is a particular favourite with children all over the world, with toys, activity books and even woodland trails featuring the Gruffalo characters. Julia has also worked with other famous illustrators including
Lydia Monks and
Nick Sharratt.
She has written over 150 books, including the Julia Donaldson
Songbirds (readers that are part of the Oxford Reading Tree), which is used in schools. Aside from her picture books, Julia Donaldson's poems are also immensely popular (e.g.
Crazy Mayonnaisy Mum for ages 5-7;
Wriggle and Roar for pre-school;
The Paper Dolls book and CD) and she has also written a few non-rhyming books for older children. These include the
Princess Mirror-Belle books aimed at 6-9 year olds, and
Running on the Cracks, a novel for teenagers. Julia Donaldson books sell all over the world, making her one of the UK’s top selling authors.
Julia Donaldson’s new book
The Teeny Weeny Genie, illustrated by Anna Currey, came out in July 2020.
Julia Donaldson Facts
- Julia Donaldson is a CBE and was Children’s Laureate from 2011-2013
- She decided she wanted to be a writer when her father gave her a big book of poems for her fifth birthday.
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The Gruffalo, one of the most successful Julia Donaldson stories, has been translated into over 43 different languages, including Scottish Gaelic. If you love the Gruffalo book, check out some of the great activities
here, as well as the Gruffalo song.
We also love the Julia Donaldson collection in audio, with many brilliant readers such as Imelda Staunton and Alexander Armstrong.
Our Favourite Julia Donaldson Characters: Stick Man in
Stick Man, Mouse in
The Gruffalo, Spike and Sue in
Songbirds Phonic Readers, The Witch in
Room on the Broom
Key Julia Donaldson Series: The Gruffalo and
Tales from Acorn Wood illustrated by Axel Scheffler,
Princess Mirror-Belle and
What the Ladybird Heard illustrated by Lydia Monks,
Songbird Phonics with Oxford Reading Tree
Our Favourite Julia Donaldson audiobooks: Superworm - narrated by Imelda Staunton, Room and the Broom book and song - narrated by Josie Lawrence,
What the Ladybird Heard - narrated by Alexander Armstrong,
The Detective Dog - narrated by Floella Benjamin
The most popular Julia Donaldson books in order:
A Squash and a Squeeze (1993)
The Gruffalo (1999)
Monkey Puzzle (2000)
Room on the Broom (2002)
The Smartest Giant in Town (2002)
The Snail and the Whale (2003)
Fox’s Socks (2003)
Rabbit’s Nap (2003)
The Gruffalo’s Child (2004)
Charlie Cook’s Favourite Book (2005)
Stick Man (2008)
What the Ladybird Heard (2009)
Zog(2010)
The Highway Rat (2011)
The Paper Dolls (2012)
Superworm(2012)
Sugarlump and the Unicorn (2013)
The Scarecrows’ Wedding (2014)
The Detective Dog (2016)
The Everywhere Bear (2017)
The Teeny Weeny Genie (2020)
All the Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler Books in Order:
A Squash and a Squeeze (1993)
The Gruffalo (1999)
Monkey Puzzle (2000)
Room on the Broom (2002)
The Smartest Giant in Town (2002)
The Snail and the Whale (2003)
The Gruffalo’s Child (2004)
Charlie Cook’s Favourite Book (2005)
Stick Man (2008)
Tiddler (2009)
Tabby McTat (2009)
Zog (2010)
The Highway Rat (2011)
Superworm(2012)
The Scarecrows’ Wedding (2014)
Zog and the Flying Doctors (2016)
The Ugly Five (2017)
The Smeds and the Smoos (2019)
Tales from Acorn Wood series:
Fox’s Socks (2003)
Rabbit’s Nap (2003)
Hide-and-Seek Pig (2003)
Postman Bear (2003)
Friends (2019)
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