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Vivian French - Children's Author
Vivian French is the bestselling children's author of The Tiara Club. She has also written many picture books, fiction for younger readers and story collections.
Vivian French - as a child
Vivian doesn't remember her schooldays with any affection at all. "I had a nightmarish imagination," she says, "and I could always see exactly how things could go wrong. I ended up scared of everything - games, teachers, lessons - and I was always sick on Sunday nights if there was school the next day. My best times were when I went to stay with my grandparents; they had a huge garden, and I lived a blissfully happy fantasy life in among the trees."
As an adult
Vivian's first job ever was at the National Book League (now BookTrust) where she was always reading children's books. She left to have her first daughter, then joined a travelling theatre company. "My whole life changed," she says. "I loved the acting, and I loved touring. I began to write plays for us to perform, but it never occurred to me to write stories.
As an artist
Vivian has written dozens of books on all subjects and for all ages, including the board book Lullaby Lion, the picture book Polly’s Pink Pyjamas, the non-fiction picture books Yukky Worms, Chocolate and Caterpillar Butterfly, (shortlisted for the 1993 Kurt Maschler award), the fabulous comic fantasy series Tales from the Five Kingdoms and six first experience books about the Buttons family (publishing in 2012). She says, "I like to move between picture books and teenage angst, between fiction and non-fiction, between retellings and new ideas. Someone wise once told me that it's all right to be a free wheeler (at the time I was earnestly searching for a defining label) and I'm happy with that.
Vivian has been writer-in-residence at libraries, schools and festivals, including the Edinburgh International Book Festival and Wordplay, Swansea. She was a regular reviewer for The Guardian for six years, and travels all around the world swapping and sharing ideas with children and adults.
Things you didn't know about Vivian French
1. When she was little she had an imaginary lion called Jesus.
2. She is absolutely no good at cooking at all; all she can make is macaroni cheese.
3. She's written three books under the name of Louis Catt - her cat's called Louis.
4. She once got muddled and told a school that she had five daughters instead of four, and had to make up a whole story about the extra daughter.
5. She hates mince pies, and beetroot with vinegar on it.
6. Her favourite journey is the number 22 bus route in Edinburgh; it trundles along beside the Water of Leith and takes her home.
7. She really likes cars, and would LOVE to have a Mark One Ford Cortina (she used to have one but it fell apart.) If anyone's got one going spare, please send it c/o Walker Books.
8. She is rather nervous of cows, especially when they stare at her.
9. Her favourite food is mango sorbet. Or raspberries. Or both together.
10. She is usually hopeful.
Featured Books, with extracts by Vivian French
Vivian French
Beginning readers will enjoy these two easy-to-read stories which make exciting stories out of a shopping trip with a difference and Hunter the dog’s search for his lost bone. Selina Young’s illustrations match the text perfectly.
Featured in: 5+ readers | 7+ readers
Format: Paperback - Released: 02/08/2012
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Vivian French
Three short stories will delight early readers as they capture incidents from Jason and Daisy’s childhood which will strike a familiar chord. Jason’s good behaviour earns him the bun he wants while his attempts to get Daisy to grow by...
Featured in: 5+ readers | 7+ readers | eBooks
Format: Paperback - Released: 05/07/2012
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Vivian French
Bees, butterflies, slugs and snails – the little creatures in the garden are vividly brought to life in this charming story about stories. Two badly behaved bees fail to bring back enough honey to satisfy their Queen but they bring...
Featured in: 5+ readers | 7+ readers
Format: Paperback - Released: 07/06/2012
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Vivian French
A delightful animal story, perfect for early readers. There’s nearly a pet shop disaster when a noisy puppy won’t stay quiet at night time. How will the other animals ever get to sleep? Maybe telling stories will do the trick?...
Featured in: 5+ readers | 7+ readers
Format: Paperback - Released: 03/05/2012
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Vivian French
Down in the Jungle it's time for bed, but Monkey wants a story and he sets off to find one in this charming, funny story, perfect for early readers and for reading aloud and sharing with less confident children. These...
Featured in: 5+ readers | 7+ readers
Format: Paperback - Released: 05/04/2012
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Vivian French
A heart-warming story perfect for early readers about a lost kitten searching for somewhere to call home. There are lots of Early Reader titles to choose from that are great for sharing with your youngsters and for kids just starting out...
Featured in: 5+ readers | 7+ readers | eBooks
Format: Paperback - Released: 03/03/2011
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Vivian French
This is a fantastically funny, perfectly pink picture book about a little girl called Polly and her beloved pink pyjamas. You're in the right place if you want some gorgeous activity sheet packs for this title (click here...
Featured in: 3+ readers
Format: Paperback - Released: 07/02/2011
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Vivian French
Meet four teeny-tiny dragons in some wonderfully endearing adventures as they leave their home in the attic and go out into the great outdoors. Girls and boys everywhere will delight in their antics, as well as their friends and foes....
Featured in: 5+ readers
Format: Paperback - Released: 05/06/2008
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Vivian French
Meet four teeny-tiny dragons in some wonderfully endearing adventures as they leave their home in the attic and go out into the great outdoors. Girls and boys everywhere will delight in their antics, as well as their friends and foes....
Featured in: 5+ readers
Format: Paperback - Released: 05/06/2008
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Vivian French
Meet four teeny-tiny dragons in some wonderfully endearing adventures as they leave their home in the attic and go out into the great outdoors. Girls and boys everywhere will delight in their antics, as well as their friends and foes....
Featured in: 5+ readers
Format: Paperback - Released: 05/06/2008
Info Extract Wishlist Compare Price Buy
Vivian French
Meet four teeny-tiny dragons in some wonderfully endearing adventures as they leave their home in the attic and go out into the great outdoors. Girls and boys everywhere will delight in their antics, as well as their friends and foes....
Featured in: 5+ readers
Format: Paperback - Released: 08/05/2008
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Vivian French
Meet four teeny-tiny dragons in some wonderfully endearing adventures as they leave their home in the attic and go out into the great outdoors. Girls and boys everywhere will delight in their antics, as well as their friends and foes....
Featured in: 5+ readers
Format: Paperback - Released: 08/05/2008
Info Extract Wishlist Compare Price Buy
Vivian French
Meet four teeny-tiny dragons in some wonderfully endearing adventures as they leave their home in the attic and go out into the great outdoors. Girls and boys everywhere will delight in their antics, as well as their friends and foes....
Featured in: 5+ readers
Format: Paperback - Released: 08/05/2008
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Vivian French
Little girls will absolutely love the world of Silver Towers where six girls are learning how to become perfect princesses. To celebrate the publication of the second Tiara Club series, The Tiara Club at Silver Towers, we’ve got 3 sets of six...
Featured in: 7+ readers
Format: Paperback - Released: 03/08/2006
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Vivian French
Little girls will absolutely love the world of Silver Towers where six girls are learning how to become perfect princesses. To celebrate the publication of the second Tiara Club series, The Tiara Club at Silver Towers, we’ve got 3 sets of six...
Featured in: 7+ readers
Format: Paperback - Released: 03/08/2006
Info Extract Wishlist Compare Price Buy
Vivian French
Little girls will absolutely love the world of Silver Towers where six girls are learning how to become perfect princesses. To celebrate the publication of the second Tiara Club series, The Tiara Club at Silver Towers, we’ve got 3 sets of six...
Featured in: 7+ readers
Format: Paperback - Released: 03/08/2006
Info Extract Wishlist Compare Price Buy
Vivian French
Little girls will absolutely love the world of Silver Towers where six girls are learning how to become perfect princesses. To celebrate the publication of the second Tiara Club series, The Tiara Club at Silver Towers, we’ve got 3 sets of six...
Featured in: 7+ readers
Format: Paperback - Released: 03/08/2006
Info Extract Wishlist Compare Price Buy
Vivian French
Little girls will absolutely love the world of Silver Towers where six girls are learning how to become perfect princesses. To celebrate the publication of the second Tiara Club series, The Tiara Club at Silver Towers, we’ve got 3 sets of six...
Featured in: 7+ readers
Format: Paperback - Released: 03/08/2006
Info Extract Wishlist Compare Price Buy
Vivian French
Little girls will absolutely love the world of Silver Towers where six girls are learning how to become perfect princesses. To celebrate the publication of the second Tiara Club series, The Tiara Club at Silver Towers, we’ve got 3 sets of six...
Featured in: 7+ readers
Format: Paperback - Released: 03/08/2006
Info Extract Wishlist Compare Price Buy
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