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Jackie Morris lives in Wales, where she writes and paints. She has two children, a small pack of dogs and a small pride of cats. She exhibits her paintings in galleries nationwide. Her internationally bestselling picture books for Frances Lincoln are Ted Hughes’ How the Whale Became; Mariana and the Merchild; The Snow Leopard; Can You See a Little Bear?; The Snow Whale; Lord of the Forest; as well as those she has both written and illustrated, The Seal Children; The Time of the Lion; Little One We Knew You’d Come; Tell Me a Dragon; The Cat and the Fiddle: A Treasury of Nursery Rhymes; The Ice Bear. She has also written and illustrated a critically acclaimed novel for older children, East of the Sun, West of the Moon.
In 2019 she won the Kate Greenaway Medal for her illustration of The Lost Words by Robert Macfarlane. In her acceptance speech, Jackie Morris, said: “The times ahead are challenging. It seems to me that artists, writers, musicians have one job at the moment – to help to tell the truth about what is happening to this small and fragile world we inhabit, to re-engage with the natural world, to inspire and to imagine better ways to live. Because there is no Planet B and we are at a turning point. And because in order to make anything happen it first needs to be imagined. And as writers and illustrators for children we grow the readers and thinkers of the future.
“I’m learning so much as I watch our young people call politicians to account. Together we can make a change. And we must. While politicians nod and pretend to listen to Greta Thunberg, declare Climate Emergencies, then continue with ‘business as usual’ finding money always for bombs and seldom for books we need to stand beside these children and hold our deceitful leaders to account.”
We first met Mrs Noah in Mrs Noah’s Pockets whilst the family were all on the Ark. Now the Ark has made land and whilst Noah makes the Ark into a home, Mrs Noah sets about planting a garden in the fresh new earth. Her always deep pockets furnish all the seeds needed for the job, the ark provides the trees they have nurtured along the way and she enlists the children to help her tend the new garden. A deceptively simple story –it is in the illustrations that we see the development of the garden as the pictures move from a dark rocky palette, to a more organised series of garden terraces, with colour gradually growing in each spread as we progress through the book – until at last we have a wonderful explosion of plants and animals for all the birds, bees and humans to share. A wonderful celebration of the joys of planting and growing, I can see it being used to seed discussions around how you might create a garden – in school or at home. Plus, as the publisher points out, it provides a positive way of encouraging discussion around migrants and refugees – as Mrs Noah and her family build a new home in a foreign land. I can see this becoming a firm favourite in classrooms all over the country.
Exquisitely gorgeous illustrations accompany a well known fairy tale with a difference, an edge. Tiny Owl Publishing have a series of books called ‘One Story, Many Voices’, where authors and illustrators explore well known fairy tales from different perspectives. Here, the Twelve Dancing Princesses from the Brothers Grimm are transformed into The Secret of the Tattered Shoes by Jackie Morris. I opened the package containing the book and exclaimed in delight. The illustrations by Ehsan Abdollahi carry the story perfectly, the gold glistens, the pears call to be picked, the background as stunning as the puppet-like characters. The story by award-winning Jackie Morris sits boldly on the page, simple, evocative, familiar yet different. The love that Jackie Morris holds for nature shines through, while the ending made me smile, it suits, it feels, well, just so right. The Secret of the Tattered Shoes conjures the traditional fairy tale yet awakens new feelings and thoughts. I absolutely adored this rich and vibrant tale, both for the new interpretation, and the illustrations which adorn it.
With wonderful stylish artwork by an artist of rare talent, this book describes through images and enchanting text the many different varieties of dragon and exactly why the different owners love them more than any other. Ranging from a dragon as big as a village to a tiny dragon with whisper-thin wings and finally at the end of the book a page bursting with every dragon in the book.
Shortlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award | Interest Age 8-12 | Full of magic, myth and a wonderful sense of family, and illustrated throughout with Jackie Morris’s beautiful, atmospheric paintings, this is perfect winter reading. Sol lives in Seattle with his dad but doesn’t feel he belongs, and when an Arctic Fox appears at the docks, he identifies with the small white creature, so alien, so wild. The arrival of the fox brings a change in Sol’s life, a return to the wild landscapes of Alaska and a place he can finally feel at home. Jackie Morris recognises perfectly the deep-seated importance to every one of us of wild creatures and wild landscapes, and this is a book to treasure.
At last all were gathered inside the ark. It heaved with animals, large and small. Mrs Noah wore a brand-new coat, with a hood and a cape - and very deep pockets. Lots of pockets. When Mr Noah builds the ark, he makes two lists - one for all the animals who will come on board and one for those troublesome creatures he will leave behind. Meanwhile, Mrs Noah gets out her sewing machine and makes a coat with very deep pockets. Lots of pockets.
Stunning illustrations capture the warm emotions of this magical story and juxtaposes them perfectly with the winter landscape of the white bears and the hunters who live in it. When Raven steals a white bear cub and delivers him to the hunter and his family as the human baby they long for, he sets up a future conflict between man and the bears. The child loves his life with his family but, when Raven leads him back to his bear brother, he falls in love with him too. How the bears and the humans learn to live together through their mutual love of the child tells a story which gently conveys some important messages about tolerance and understanding. ~ Julia Eccleshare
Jackie Morris's poetic text weaves the spirit of nature into a universal myth for our time. Set against the stunning landscapes of the Himalayas, her beautiful illustrations of the nearly-extinct Snow Leopard offer a message of hope at a time when many of the world's wildest places are being worn away by human beings.
Longlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award One of our Super Readable Books of the Year 2016 | November 2016 Book of the Month Interest Age 8-12 | In a nutshell: a wild creature leads a boy home | Full of magic, myth and a wonderful sense of family, and illustrated throughout with Jackie Morris’s beautiful, atmospheric paintings, this is perfect winter reading. Sol lives in Seattle with his dad but doesn’t feel he belongs, and when an Arctic Fox appears at the docks, he identifies with the small white creature, so alien, so wild. The arrival of the fox brings a change in Sol’s life, a return to the wild landscapes of Alaska and a place he can finally feel at home. Jackie Morris recognises perfectly the deep-seated importance to every one of us of wild creatures and wild landscapes, and this is a book to treasure. ~ Andrea Reece The Conkers imprint has quickly and successfully established itself: offering the very best authors and illustrators, all heavily illustrated throughout, in a range of gorgeous formats. High quality cream paper and a special easy to read font ensure a smooth read for all.
With wonderful stylish artwork by an artist of rare talent, this book describes through images and enchanting text the many different varieties of dragon and exactly why the different owners love them more than any other. Ranging from a dragon as big as a village to a tiny dragon with whisper-thin wings and finally at the end of the book a page bursting with every dragon in the book. TELL ME A DRAGON TEACHERS' NOTES BY PIE CORBETT* CLICK HERE to download Teachers' Notes specially written by Pie Corbett to assist teachers and librarians in the promotion and teaching of Tell Me a Dragon by Jackie Morris in schools and to help foster a love of good books, literature and reading in children.
Gosh, this is absolutely and completely enchanting. The moment I laid eyes on ‘The Quiet Music of Gently Falling Snow’ I knew I had fallen in love, I hugged the book before even opening the pages. I felt like a child again, it’s beautifully sized, it’s big, the cover stunning, it just invites you to pick it up. The story began when Jackie Morris created Christmas cards, one a year for Help Musicians UK, the words, while there all along, arrived later, in the creating of this book. The illustrations speak so eloquently and beautifully they brought a tear to my eye and goose bumps magically appeared on my arms. This is a book where you just sink into the pages, drift away on the words, and it feels like a half remembered dream. I whole heartedly recommend ‘The Quiet Music of Gently Falling Snow’, it would make a perfect gift (even for yourself), and is a fairy tale delight of a read. ~ Liz Robinson A message from the author, Jackie Morris: Between the covers of this book there is a gathering, of images* and stories. The words tell only a small part of what can be found in the images. These stories ask more questions than they answer. Look at the paintings and find within them more answers. The book is a harbour in which to rest, a catalyst for the imagination, and the stories are a series of lullabies for grown-ups. My hope is that the threads of stories will wrap around the dreams of others and spin fine gold threads to catch the imagination. * - The illustrations were originally commissioned Christmas card designs for the charity Help Musicians. The brief was always the same: anything, so long as there were musical instruments or musicians in it. A message from Jon Boden, singer, composer and musician: A tantalising glimpse into an enigmatic, free-flowing world with music at its heart... Music, painting and words have long been close acquaintances, but in The Quiet Music of Gently Falling Snow Morris has discovered a way of bringing the three art forms together in a truly organic, intuitive amalgam. Click here to read more about Jackie's inspiration for this title and also a word from Jon Boden.
Jackie Morris has taken Hans Christian Andersen’s classic fairy tale of love, loyalty and courage and made it her own. The story of Eliza who must break the enchantment that has turned her eleven brothers into swans by knitting them shirts from stinging nettles is perfect for Morris’s storytelling style and, in words and art, she captures both the beauty of the natural world – so key to this story – and the strange sense of magic that makes it so enthralling. Running along the top of pages, or breaking up text, her illustrations have the feel of a medieval illuminated manuscript while the beautiful double page illustrations place readers right at the heart of the story. This is a book to enchant readers of any age. ~ Andrea Reece
December 2014 Book of the Month With over forty traditional nursery rhymes, personally chosen by the illustrator and laid out in colour-drenched double spreads, this is a beautiful collection of rhymes that has the makings of a classic. The pictures contain lots of detail to pore over, with strong decorative elements and a fine sense of colour and design. The perfect book to share, not only with a baby, but with the whole family.
Ten wild habitats, ten wild cats and one domestic cat are dramatically and beautifully illustrated in this unique celebration of the cat. In bold pictures and a simple text, Jackie Morris brings alive Cat who, when asleep in the day, dreams of being all kinds of other cats. Sometimes she’s a lion lounging in the heat of the day; sometimes she’s a cheetah sprinting after prey in the hot desert; sometimes she’s proudly atop a rock in the snowy wastes. Always, Cat is a proud and stupendous creature. With striking pictures throughout that capture the magnificence of all cats in many different settings.
Jackie Morris's poetic text weaves the spirit of nature into a universal myth for our time. Set against the stunning landscapes of the Himalayas, her beautiful illustrations of the nearly-extinct Snow Leopard offer a message of hope at a time when many of the world's wildest places are being worn away by human beings.
Shortlisted for the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal 2016. With stunning watercolour paintings, this lyrical picture book describes eight bears from all over the world, all shown in their wild habitats - But which is the best bear of all? Your own teddy bear of course!
Stunning illustrations capture the warm emotions of this magical story and juxtaposes them perfectly with the winter landscape of the white bears and the hunters who live in it. When Raven steals a white bear cub and delivers him to the hunter and his family as the human baby they long for, he sets up a future conflict between man and the bears. The child loves his life with his family but, when Raven leads him back to his bear brother, he falls in love with him too. How the bears and the humans learn to live together through their mutual love of the child tells a story which gently conveys some important messages about tolerance and understanding. ~ Julia Eccleshare
Stunning illustrations capture the warm emotions of this magical story and juxtaposes them perfectly with the winter landscape of the white bears and the hunters who live in it. When Raven steals a white bear cub and delivers him to the hunter and his family as the human baby they long for, he sets up a future conflict between man and the bears. The child loves his life with his family but, when Raven leads him back to his bear brother, he falls in love with him too. How the bears and the humans learn to live together through their mutual love of the child tells a story which gently conveys some important messages about tolerance and understanding.
Ten wild habitats, ten wild cats and one domestic cat are dramatically and beautifully illustrated in this unique celebration of the cat. In bold pictures and a simple text, Jackie Morris brings alive Cat who, when asleep in the day, dreams of being all kinds of other cats. Sometimes she’s a lion lounging in the heat of the day; sometimes she’s a cheetah sprinting after prey in the hot desert; sometimes she’s proudly atop a rock in the snowy wastes. Always, Cat is a proud and stupendous creature. With striking pictures throughout that capture the magnificence of all cats in many different settings. This is a mini hardback book edition and a perfect gift for mum on Mother's Day or for cat lovers aged 5 to 105!
Beautifully illustrated, this is a magical story celebrating the survival of the Golden Hares and especially the protection of their queen. Growing up in the country, the boy knows that he and his family are special and different. While those around them hunt the Golden Hares, they protect them and listen to their song. But can the boy keep the Golden Hares safe when others are so determined to attack them? Jackie Morris vividly brings alive this wonder of nature and the struggle to keep a very special creature alive.
A lyrical and atmospheric fairy tale with a twist, inspired by Little Red Riding Hood. It is a powerful combination of menace and beauty, with the sensual surroundings of the woods and the wild creatures who live there.
A treat of a tale, this makes a rich full-length story out of a classic folk tale from the snowy northern lands. Living in poverty after has family has been forced to leave their home, a young girl is visited by a magical white bear. She is fearless as she sets off on his back to his amazing castle where she lives with him in great comfort and contentment. Much is unknown and much is magic. Unintentionally, the girl breaks the magic spell and so condemns the white bear to a tragic fate. The girl and the bear must part and she must find a way to put the story right. A thought provoking story about growing up and leaving home for something new.
In bold pictures and a simple text, Jackie Morris brings alive Cat who, when asleep in the day, dreams of being all kinds of other cats. Sometimes she’s a lion lounging in the heat of the day; sometimes she’s a cheetah sprinting after prey in the hot desert; sometimes she’s proudly atop a rock in the snowy wastes. Always, Cat is a proud and stupendous creature. Large format pictures capture the magnificence of all cats in many different settings.
With over forty traditional nursery rhymes, personally chosen by the illustrator and laid out in colour-drenched double spreads, this is a beautiful collection of rhymes that has the makings of a classic. The pictures contain lots of detail to pore over, with strong decorative elements and a fine sense of colour and design. The perfect book to share, not only with a baby, but with the whole family.
Stunning illustrations capture the warm emotions of this magical story and juxtaposes them perfectly with the winter landscape of the white bears and the hunters who live in it. When Raven steals a white bear cub and delivers him to the hunter and his family as the human baby they long for, he sets up a future conflict between man and the bears. The child loves his life with his family but, when Raven leads him back to his bear brother, he falls in love with him too. How the bears and the humans learn to live together through their mutual love of the child tells a story which gently conveys some important messages about tolerance and understanding.
With wonderful stylish artwork by an artist of rare talent, this book describes through images and enchanting text the many different varieties of dragon and exactly why the different owners love them more than any other. Ranging from a dragon as big as a village to a tiny dragon with whisper-thin wings and finally at the end of the book a page bursting with every dragon in the book.
Age 7+ Whether you’re 5 or 105 this is a real dream of a book; a collection of poems that reflect every facet of life with a thoughtful blend of humour and playfulness, poignancy and nostalgia. It’s a collection to be treasured and dipped into at any time and the dream-like illustrations complement the words quite beautifully. In a word – the ‘rolls-royce’ of poetry books. Bel Mooney, the well-known author and columnist is equally enthused: ‘This is a wonderful collection. The hypnotic rhythms of the poems combine with the glorious colours of the illustrations to transport you beyond any passing fashion to a world where everything is possible. That’s what ‘classic’ means. That’s why we will always need books like this.’
Age 7+ Lovereading review to appear soon...
He had been waiting all his life, hoping to hear the hare's song. . . The boy and his family are special. While others hunt the hares, his family search for leverets orphaned by the hunt and keep them safe. When the hares begin to move across the land, the boy and his sister know that their greatest challenge has begun. They must follow and watch and wait until the time comes for the old queen to leave and her child to reign in her place. But others are searching for the golden queen of the hares, a hunter with two hounds, one silver, one black. Can two children, on their own, keep the golden queen safe from the man and his hounds?
A wonderfully illustrated and sumptuous collection of nursery rhymes for all ages, including many favourite rhymes as well as some that will be a delightful discovery. Originally published as The Cat and the Fiddle in 2011, this edition includes a new introduction by Jackie Morris - a spirited defence of the nursery rhyme, which she fears is in danger of being forgotten in a digital world. The beautiful and detailed watercolour paintings combine with over 40 rhymes to make this a unique treasury and lifetime possession for children and adults of all ages.
Longlisted for the 2020 Kate Greenaway Medal 'A quiet masterpiece . . . a love story, a hope story, a story out of time, out of stricture, out of the narrow artificial bounds by which we try to contain the wild wonderland of reality because we are too frightened to live wonder-stricken' Maria Popova, Brain Pickings 'The tales feel like half-remembered dreams, peopled with fairytale characters and magnificent creatures' Rebecca Armstrong, i Paper Best Books of 2020 'A powerful spell book to make the sleepless fall into slumber and the agitated calm' i Paper 'A lyrical and enchanting collection' Scotsman This book is not meant to be read from cover to cover. It is a book for dreamers. Slight of word, rich of image, its purpose is to ease the soul. The paintings between these covers were worked in the between times, an unwinding of the soul, when the pressures of work were too much. Dreams and wishes are the inspiration at times like this. Threaded through the curious world of The Unwinding are words, slight and lyrical. Their aim is to set the reader's mind adrift from the troubles of our times, into peaceful harbours where imagination can stretch, where quiet reflection can bring peace. The Unwinding is designed to be a companion, a talisman to be turned to again and again and a place of respite from an increasingly frantic and complex world.
This book is a companion to The Unwinding. It contains within images that tell stories, but it reads like a silent film. Each of the images is an invitation to dream. The tales of this silent edition are not pinned to the page by words. Each dreamer will find their own path, perhaps a new one each time they return. The illustrations are intended to inspire: there is space to draw and write, to paint dreams and stories, thoughts and verse, in new worlds, wherever your pen may guide you.
We first met Mrs Noah in Mrs Noah’s Pockets whilst the family were all on the Ark. Now the Ark has made land and whilst Noah makes the Ark into a home, Mrs Noah sets about planting a garden in the fresh new earth. Her always deep pockets furnish all the seeds needed for the job, the ark provides the trees they have nurtured along the way and she enlists the children to help her tend the new garden. A deceptively simple story –it is in the illustrations that we see the development of the garden as the pictures move from a dark rocky palette, to a more organised series of garden terraces, with colour gradually growing in each spread as we progress through the book – until at last we have a wonderful explosion of plants and animals for all the birds, bees and humans to share. A wonderful celebration of the joys of planting and growing, I can see it being used to seed discussions around how you might create a garden – in school or at home. Plus, as the publisher points out, it provides a positive way of encouraging discussion around migrants and refugees – as Mrs Noah and her family build a new home in a foreign land. I can see this becoming a firm favourite in classrooms all over the country.
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