Jill Murphy - Children's Author

Jill Murphy was born in London in 1949 and attended the Ursuline Convent in Wimbledon. From a very early age she was drawing and writing stories, and was already putting books together (literally, with a stapler) by the time she was six. she enjoyed reading boarding school stories, and together with her experience of convent school life, this provided much of the material and inspiration Miss Cackle's Academy in The Worst Witch, which she started when she was 15. Mildred Hubble is very much a self-portrait! She went on to study at Chelsea, Croydon and Camberwell Schools of Art. Jill worked in a children’s home for four years and as a nanny for a year, before becoming a freelance writer and illustrator. The Worst Witch stories have become some of the most outstandingly successful titles on the Young Puffin paperback list and have sold more than 3 million copies worldwide. They were also made into a major ITV series.

Jill is also well known for her picture books, in particular the stories about the Large Family which detail the domestic chaos of an elephant family. She was commended in the 1980 Kate Greenaway Medal for Peace at Last. A Quiet Night In was shortlisted for the same medal in 1994. Five Minute's Peace won the 1987 Parents Magazine Best Books for Babies Award, as well as being shortlisted for the 1986 Children's Book Award. All in One Piece was highly commended for the 1987 Kate Greenaway Award and shortlisted for the 1987 Children's Book Award. The Last Noo-noo won the 0-5 category of the 1995 Smarties Book Prize as well as numerous other awards. In 1996 it was adapted as a play and performed at the Polka Theatre, Wimbledon, London. In 2007, Jill received an honorary fellowship from University College Falmouth. She currently lives in Cornwall with her son.

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Featured Books, with extracts by Jill Murphy

Peace at Last
Jill Murphy
A new board book edition of the picture book classic, in a size that's perfect for little paws! A timeless storybook classic full of bright colourful pictures that accompany a simple, repetitive text.  Children will delight in all the wonderful sound...
Featured in: 3+ readers | Baby and Toddler
Format: Board book - Released: 14/03/2013
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The Worst Witch to the Rescue
Jill Murphy
Full of witchcraft, wizardry and black magic, The World’s Worst Witch is a suitable alternative if you’re fed up of re-reading your Harry Potter. Any child who remembers their first day at school will sympathise with Mildred Hubble. Usually a...
Featured in: 7+ readers | eBooks
Format: Paperback - Released: 02/10/2008
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The Worst Witch To The Rescue
Jill Murphy
Full of witchcraft and wizardry and black magic, The World’s Worst Witch is a suitable alternative if you’re fed up of re-reading your Harry Potter. Any child who remembers their first day at school will sympathise with Mildred Hubble. Usually...
Featured in: 7+ readers | eBooks
Format: Hardback - Released: 04/10/2007
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The Worst Witch Collection
Jill Murphy
Millions of young readers have fallen under the spell of Jill Murphy's Worst Witch called Mildred Hubble.  This collection of 5 classics in one collection, beautifully contained in a sturdy slipcase is the perfect present for 5-9 year olds.  Mad-cap...
Featured in: 7+ readers
Format: Trade-only Material - Released: 04/10/2007
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Peace at Last
Jill Murphy
A timeless storybook classic full of bright colourful pictures that accompany a simple, repetitive text.  Children will delight in all the wonderful sound effects and Mr Bear's reaction to the noises that stop him going to sleep until...you'll find out...
Featured in: 3+ readers
Format: Paperback - Released: 06/07/2007
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The Last Noo-Noo
Jill Murphy
A must for every child who loves their dummy and every parent who has ever tried to get rid of it! Marlon the monster loves his dummy or noo-noo as he calls it. However many tricks his mother and particularly...
Featured in: 3+ readers
Format: Paperback - Released: 02/01/2006
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The Worst Witch Saves The Day
Jill Murphy
Perfect as a treat for Halloween. Long before Harry Potter arrived at Hogwarts, Mildred Hubble was a delightfully hopeless pupil at Miss Cackle’s Academy for Witches and Wizards in the very first Worst Witch story. Who cares that she’s the...
Featured in: 5+ readers | 7+ readers | eBooks
Format: Paperback - Released: 06/10/2005
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The Worst Witch
Jill Murphy
The trials and tribulations of a disastrous new girl at Miss Cackle’s Academy for Witches a gloriously witchy boarding school, The Worst Witch has magic galore. Unfortunately for Mildred Hubble, most of it has a habit of going badly wrong....
Featured in: 5+ readers | Bookshelf Essentials | eBooks
Format: Paperback (b Format) - Released: 25/11/2004
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Bad Spell for the Worst Witch
Jill Murphy
Long before Harry Potter got to Hogwarts, Mildred Hubble had been learning similar skills at Miss Cackle’s Academy for Witches. Unfortunately, Mildred is the very worst pupil in the school. Now back for a second year, things aren’t going any...
Featured in: 5+ readers | 7+ readers | Reluctant Readers | eBooks
Format: Paperback - Released: 28/07/1983
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