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Helen Oxenbury - Illustrator

Helen Oxenbury is among the most popular and critically-acclaimed illustrators of all time. Her many award-winning books for children include We’re Going On a Bear Hunt, written by Michael Rosen, Farmer Duck, written by Martin Waddell and There’s Going to Be a Baby, written by John Burningham; as well as her classic board books for babies. Helen has won the prestigious Kate Greenaway Medal twice – in 1969, for The Quangle Wangle’s Hat and The Dragon of an Ordinary Family and in 1999, for Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. She lives in London. Read Helen Oxenbury on winning the Kate Greenaway Medal twice here.

As a child
Growing up in Ipswich, England, Helen Oxenbury loved nothing more than drawing. As a teenager, she entered art school and basked in the pleasure of drawing, and nothing but drawing, all day. During vacations she helped out at the Ipswich Repertory Theatre workshop, mixing paints for set designers. It was there that she decided her future lay in theatre design. While studying costume design, however, Helen was told by a teacher, “This is hopeless, you know. You ought to go and do illustrations – you’re much more interested in the character, and we don’t know who’s going to play the part!”

As an adult
Sets and scenery, not books, remained Helen’s preoccupation for her early adult life as she embarked on careers in theatre, film, and TV. After marrying John Burningham, another of the world’s most eminent children’s book illustrators, and giving birth to their first child, at last she turned to illustrating children’s books. “When I had babies,” Helen says, “I wanted to be home with them and look for something to do there.” Helen and her husband make their home in London, where the she works in a nearby studio. She is also an avid tennis player.

As an artist
Today, Helen is among the most popular and critically acclaimed illustrators of her time. Her numerous books for children include the Kate Greenaway Medal-winning Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll; Smarties Book Prize-winning Farmer Duck by Martin Waddell; We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen; Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes, written by Mem Fox, as well as her classic board books for babies. And what does she love most about her work? Thinking up new ideas? Seeing the finished book? Not at all. For Helen, “The best part is when I think I know what I’m doing and I’ve completed a few drawings. In fact, when I get about a third of the way through, and I feel I’m on my way, then I’m happy. It’s like reading a good book – you don’t want it to end.”

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Books Illustrated By Helen Oxenbury

Nature Adventures

Michael Rosen

Hardback

In Stock

£13.49 £14.99

Welcome to the World

Julia Donaldson

Paperback

In Stock

£7.19 £7.99

Air Miles

John Burningham and 1 more

Paperback

In Stock

£7.19 £7.99

Red Riding Hood

Beatrix Potter and 1 more

Paperback

In Stock

£7.19 £7.99

The Giant Jumperee

Julia Donaldson

Board book

In Stock

£6.29 £6.99

So Much

Trish Cooke

Paperback

In Stock

£8.09 £8.99

So Much

Trish Cooke

Paperback

In Stock

£8.09 £8.99

Time Now to Dream

Timothy Knapman

Paperback

In Stock

£7.19 £7.99

Tickle, Tickle

Helen Oxenbury

Hardback

In Stock

£6.29 £6.99

We're Gangin on a Bear Hunt

Michael Rosen

Paperback

In Stock

£6.29 £6.99

The Growing Story

Ruth Krauss

Paperback

In Stock

£7.19 £7.99

Captain Jack and the Pirates

Peter Bently

Paperback

In Stock

£7.19 £7.99

When Charley Met Granpa

Amy Hest

Paperback

Not Available

Charley's First Night

Amy Hest

Paperback

Not Available

Bardal Feirmeora

Martin Waddell

Paperback

Not Available

Dressing

Helen Oxenbury

Board book

Not Available

Playing

Helen Oxenbury

Board book

Not Available

Friends

Helen Oxenbury

Board book

Not Available

Working

Helen Oxenbury

Board book

Not Available

Baby Love (Boxed Set)

Helen Oxenbury

Board book

Not Available