Five Minutes' Peace Award-winning by Jill Murphy (author)

Author/Illustrator

Jill Murphy

Jill Murphy was born in London in 1949. From a very early age she was drawing and writing stories. “My earliest memory (my mum tells me I was two), is sitting on the kitchen floor surrounded by sheets of drawings.” By the age of six she was stapling her own little storybooks together.

Jill went to a strict convent, and left at sixteen to attend both Chelsea and Croydon art schools. At only eighteen she finished her first novel, The Worst Witch, which was based heavily on her own experiences at the convent school. Three big London publishers turned it down so Jill put it in a drawer and went off to work in a children’s home and as a nanny.

When Jill was twenty four, The Worst Witch was finally published, and was an instant best-seller. Jill became a freelance author and illustrator and many more wonderful books followed. Mildred Hubble has gone on to several more adventures, most recently The Worst Witch and the Wishing Star, and even her own TV show. The Large Family stories are Jill’s other best known stories, picture books telling of the domestic chaos of a family of elephants.

She now lives in Cornwall with her son Charlie.

Reviews

1. amy
   on 18 January 2012

   five minutes peace

   this is a great book as a bed time story for children. And as i am an adult i still read it myself! but yes i would highly recommend it for children.

   5 out of 5

Similar items

What kids think

1. sarashah
   on 24 March 2014

   It is very calm and peaceful and makes me feel happy! I am sure it will make you calm as well!

   Jill Murphy deserves a consolation of stars so that is why I have given her 5 stars out of 5 stars!

   I also enjoyed the worst witch I am so glad you are a an author!!

   5 out of 5

2. Spidergirl
   on 9 March 2014

   Really nice picture book

   4 out of 5

3. Oman-bookworm
   on 6 March 2014

   I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:)

   5 out of 5

4. feets17
   on 3 January 2014

   I liked it

5. lmdrld
   on 5 March 2013

   This is about a mum who wants some peace bUt she can’t get it with her children around.

6. Flissy22
   on 7 March 2012

   i usedto love this when i was little cos my mum said she never got any peace, she said not even when im in the bath !!! so it used to make me laugh.

7. Princessforever58
   on 7 March 2012

   I loved reading this book in primary school! The large family are still a favourite of mine and always will be! The author has made a great job of making the animal characters sound real by describing their actions and emotions.

8. migit1
   on 4 March 2012

   When i was younger i really liked this book!

9. suzott
   on 4 March 2012

   The Large Family books are a great, funny series full of events that will appeal to adults as well as children. This story is about poor old Mummy never getting any peace . Well worth a read.

   5 out of 5

10. Partyfairy123
    on 1 March 2012

    It is about a mummy having a bath but the children all bother her. I like Laura the best.

    3 out of 5

11. leSquidge
    on 1 March 2012

    Great book from my childhood which i now read to my baby at bedtime. He loves the pictures and it settles him down nicely for bed.

    4 out of 5