Posy Simmonds

Posy Simmonds grew up in Berkshire with a sister and three brothers in a house stuffed full of wonderful things to read: Victorian novels, farm manuals and American comics! She read voraciously and says, "Reading has always been my favourite occupation."

As a child Posy would draw pictures of people, then write in their conversations, cartoon-style, and doodling and drawing are still a passion for her today:

"I do a lot drawing, masses of doodling. I usually draw with my right hand, though I am ambidextrous. My style is looser with my left hand. It's the hand that does practical things like cutting out and sharpening pencils."

Posy went to boarding school and then to study in France before coming back to London to attend art school. In the early seventies, Posy produced a daily cartoon for The Sun but it was her work for The Guardian that established her as an artist and social commentator.

In 1987, Posy wanted to try something new and turned her hand to books for children. Her first picture book, Fred, was described by The Guardian as 'a pure delight' and was followed by Lulu And The Flying Babies and The Chocolate Wedding. Posy has also illustrated an edition of Hilaire Belloc's classic cautionary tale, Matilda.

In her witty and touching stories, Posy combines imagination with her own close observation of everyday events:

"I take a good look at anything that catches my eye - someone's shoes or eyebrows say. Then I go home and get it down on paper ..."

Books by Posy Simmonds

Bouncing Buffalo (Red Fox)
Fred (Red Fox)
Lulu And The Flying Babies (Red Fox)
Lulu and the Chocolate Wedding (Red Fox)
Matilda: Who Told Such Dreadful Lies and Was Burned To Death (Red Fox)
F-Freezing ABC (Jonathan Cape)
Cautionary Tales And Other Verses (The Folio Society)
Lavender (Red Fox)
Baker Cat (Picture Corgi)

For more information about Posy Simmonds please visit:

www.randomhouse.co.uk