Stick Man Award-winning team by Julia Donaldson (author) and Axel Scheffler (illustrator)

Author/Illustrator

Julia Donaldson

Julia Donaldson is author of many of today’s best-loved picture books including The Gruffalo and Stick Man. Best known for her collaborations with Axel Scheffler, each of these vivid rhyming stories is a triumph of imagination. She was also the Children’s Laureate 2011-2013.

More about Julia: “I grew up in a tall Victorian London house with my parents, grandmother, aunt, uncle, younger sister Mary and cat Geoffrey (who was really a prince in disguise. Mary and I would argue about which of us would marry him).

Mary and I were always creating imaginary characters and mimicking real ones, and I used to write shows and choreograph ballets for us.

I studied Drama and French at Bristol University, where I met Malcolm, a guitar-playing medic to whom I’m now married.

Before Malcolm and I had our three sons we used to go busking together and I would write special songs for each country; the best one was in Italian about pasta.

The busking led to a career in singing and songwriting, mainly for children’s television.

One of my television songs, A Squash and a Squeeze, was made into a book in 1993, with illustrations by the wonderful Axel Scheffler. It was great to hold the book in my hand without it vanishing in the air the way the songs did. This prompted me to unearth some plays I’d written for a school reading group, and since then I’ve had 20 plays published.

My real breakthrough was The Gruffalo, again illustrated by Axel. We work separately – he’s in London and I’m in Glasgow – but he sends me letters with lovely funny pictures on the envelopes.

My novel The Giants and the Joneses is going to be made into a film by the same team who made the Harry Potter movies, and I have written three books of stories about the anarchic Princess Mirror-Belle who appears from the mirror and disrupts the life of an otherwise ordinary eight-year-old.

When I’m not writing I am often performing, at book festivals and in theatres. I really enjoy getting the children in the audience to help me act out the stories and sing the songs.”

Axel Scheffler

Axel Scheffler was born in 1957 in Hamburg, Germany. At school, although always good at art, he never really considered a career in illustration. But long before he began his professional life, he had won his first drawing prize for an international chocolate company – his prize was a cuddly lilac cow.

Axel went on from school to study History of Art at the University of Hamburg – but he didn’t like the course and decided to leave. Knowing that he wanted to live in another country and learn a second language, he moved to England to study illustration at the Bath Academy of Art.

After graduating with a first class degree, Axel moved to London where he began illustrating for a variety of English and German advertising companies, magazines and newspapers. He took his portfolio to a number of publishers and Faber commissioned him to illustrate The Piemakers by Helen Cresswell and The Bottle Rabbit by Bernard McCabe. In 1989, Walker asked Axel to illustrate a text by Jon Blake, You’re a Hero, Daley B.

A writer called Julia Donaldson was also writing songs for Playdays at this time and her song A Squash and a Squeeze was commissioned to be a picture book. Axel Scheffler was recommended as an illustrator for the text and an award-winning team was created.

Their next book, The Gruffalo, was published in March 1999 and has already become a modern classic, selling more than 2 million copies worldwide and translated into over 20 languages. Axel also continues to illustrate for other authors as well, including Ian Whybrow and David Henry Wilson.

Axel has achieved worldwide acclaim for his humorous illustrations, and his books have been translated into over 29 languages. He has enjoyed particular success in his award-winning picture book collaborations with Julia Donaldson, but is also the best-selling illustrator of novelty books such as The Bedtime Bear. In 2006 he was been called upon to design Gordon Brown’s annual Christmas card!

Still living in London, Axel makes frequent visits to continental Europe. His hobbies include walking, cooking and reading and beadwork.

Reviews

1. Zara
   on 19 March 2017

   Stick man

   It was a very good book and I enjoyed it . I like Julia

2. Oz"s mum
   on 12 November 2013

   Stick Man

   This is a fab kids book, especially near Christmas time. My son had it when he was in nursery aged 3 and we still read it occasionally and he is now 8. It goes down as one of our favourite kids books of all time. Both my children love the rhymes and enjoy telling the story. If you haven't read it - do so now! A real heart warming christmas story with real meaning of Christmas sentiment

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What kids think

1. Smogatron
   on 14 September 2020

   I liked stickman because it was kind of adventurous, he was a throw and catch stick a stick for a swans nest a flag for a sandcastle and a stick for a fire,then Santa Claus came down the chimney and delivered stick man back to his home and he saw his stick family.

   5 out of 5

2. zouzouna22
   on 23 July 2020

   i have thise book at home

3. southwoodbookclub
   on 3 June 2019

   It was very good

4. Dropplestar
   on 25 October 2016

   I loved stick man it was one of the best stories ever.I thought it was so sweet how he lost his children and his stick lady love.I liked the bit when stick man is in the fire and Santa saved him.When I was little I read this all the time so I would recommend it to small children .

   3 out of 5

5. fairyprincessdanielle
   on 15 June 2016

   fabulous

   5 out of 5

6. Kingfisher15
   on 15 July 2015

   I love stick man

7. Catdragon
   on 17 May 2015

   I loved this book when I little but I’m not a huge fan now.I would say it’s aimed at four-five.

8. bimbo12334
   on 21 November 2014

   This book was really good i used to read it all the time at school when i was little so i recommend it for little children

9. 9520
   on 28 October 2014

   Liked this book . Got it at home .

10. sparkstar
    on 20 July 2014

    will stick man ever get back home?

11. Readingwizard55
    on 9 March 2014

    Little ones will adore this book. I read it to my little cousin (3) and he was squealing again again. This book will keep you little ones quiet for a few hours. Great.

12. Cheerforevers
    on 9 March 2014

    This is about a stick man who gets used for lots of different things like playing pooh sticks.

13. Leahka99
    on 8 March 2014

    This is a funny classic book made for kids

14. alibaba4
    on 8 March 2014

    A good picture book

    4 out of 5

15. madness86
    on 7 March 2014

    I love reading this with my mummy at bedtime and love the bit where it says im stick man im stick man thats me :) ive read it over and over and know the story really well so i can join in with mummy

    4 out of 5

16. Earthma
    on 6 March 2014

    I love this book. It’s very clever how they me the story and rhyme fit together. The pictures are funny

    5 out of 5

17. fantasticmissfox
    on 5 March 2014

    I love stick man. it is now a family favorite that we all read.

18. wing4
    on 4 March 2014

    This book is brilliant and great to read at Christmas As there is snow and father Christmas involved.

19. feets17
    on 3 January 2014

    I loved it

20. dinma07
    on 13 November 2013

    dinma 07 i loved reading the sitck man book.

    4 out of 5

21. cheem021
    on 27 October 2013

    okay

22. karategirl15
    on 13 September 2013

    i think it is really a little bit funny , i think it is a little bit nice and my favourite bit was when father christmas came. it was amazing , when father christmas came i thought he was coming out the book and giving us loads of presents. thanks. my big sis is louisegirlz check out her page.

    5 out of 5

23. xxChocolateBoxGirlxx
    on 7 March 2013

    I thought that this book was ok, but I think it needs more words.Great for younger kids though :P

    3 out of 5

24. supercoolcharm
    on 7 March 2013

    I like this book because it is fun to read and I really like this book don’t forgot to put it at the top of your “must buy”list!!!

    5 out of 5

25. natashakrywald
    on 7 March 2013

    i also loved the gruffalo

26. Paradise56
    on 6 March 2013

    this book is good

    4 out of 5

27. rockstar101
    on 6 March 2013

    good book

28. thesoupdragon44
    on 4 March 2013

    This is my sons favourite Julie Donaldson book, I love rhyming books, and this one doesn’t disappoint. With the magical Christmassy guest, lots of twists and turns. In fact I think I know most of this book off by heart!

    Defiantly a Must have for all readers

    5 out of 5

29. 1Dluver2002
    on 4 March 2013

    its a really good book for quite young kids

30. kooroo078
    on 27 February 2013

    i like this book it shows that how people look it doesnt mean there feelings match with looks!

    5 out of 5

31. summer1449410
    on 26 February 2013

    i think this is rubbish it needs more words for me but great job making it i would say it for a three year old

    1 out of 5

32. kkitt-kkatt
    on 15 February 2013

    a great adventure for me and my brother

33. fellow
    on 2 February 2013

    Its a fun book.I enjoyed it a lot

34. Pip38
    on 28 January 2013

    Loved it

    4 out of 5

35. migit1
    on 7 March 2012

    i like this book because it makes you stop and think about what we can do with sticks!

36. la1397
    on 4 March 2012

    This story is so sweet, and at parts even at my age I got a bit sniffly because i thought the stick man wouldn’t find his family. Its great for youngens who want a read with a happy ending. :)

37. axle
    on 4 March 2012

    great

38. StarstoneShyElk
    on 2 March 2012

    my family love it everyone should its a fab book!

39. angelslater
    on 1 March 2012

    this book is really great and it has really fun but realistic adventures of a stick.

    4 out of 5

40. fish38
    on 26 February 2012

    I fink stick man is cool for me

41. Booklover88
    on 5 February 2012

    My little brother loved this book and I found the pictures beautiful. The rhythm and rhyme is lovely and clever also. I recommend this to anyone who loves a happy ending!

42. charlie269
    on 30 November 2011

    it was very good so much that our teacher bought it ages ago for our class novel

43. nopassword123456789
    on 11 April 2011

    a rhyming delight from the creators of THE GRUFFALO

    3 out of 5

44. dasdas
    on 20 March 2011

    hilarious!

    5 out of 5

45. ozzyozlem
    on 5 March 2011

    Funny,but not for me

    3 out of 5

46. fizzpop01
    on 3 March 2011

    this book is soo cool

47. Hubert
    on 3 March 2011

    I’ve read this and i think it’s… not horrible IT’S BRILLEANT.

48. boxer39
    on 3 March 2011

    really good book.i liked this story .stickman went out for a jog and got into all sorts of trouble .he was glad when he made it home

49. lucy98
    on 2 March 2011

    geat

50. jijo
    on 20 February 2011

    i loved the ryming book and i can even follow its ryme (ill fetch it and ill drop it)

    KHADIJA AGE:7

    5 out of 5

51. working96
    on 20 January 2011

    ITS OKAY

    1 out of 5

52. roxfox
    on 19 January 2011

    Santa Helped stickman .

    5 out of 5

53. Cp-rox-my-sox
    on 16 January 2011

    I read this! Its a great book but I recommend it to people who like rhymes and poetry!

    5 out of 5

54. wenti
    on 3 January 2011

    Love this book!

    5 out of 5

55. scribblescribble
    on 13 June 2010

    this looks good!

    5 out of 5

56. izzybea
    on 23 September 2009

    this book has lovely pictures

    5 out of 5

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