Julia Donaldson is the highly talented author of some of the best-loved children’s books in the world. Born in London in 1948, she grew up with her younger sister Mary who she loved to create imaginary characters with.

Donaldson was born on September 16, 1948, in England. As a child she wrote plays and choreographed dances, which she and her younger sister, Mary, performed.

Donaldson studied drama and French at the University of Bristol. Afterward she worked in publishing and as a teacher. Eventually, she began writing songs for children’s television. One of these songs, “A Squash and a Squeeze,” became her first book.

She started her career as a singer-songwriter, writing mainly for children’s television. One of these songs, A Squash and a Squeeze, was made into her first book in 1993 in collaboration with the illustrator, Axel Scheffler. The two have since gone on to produce a large number of bestselling picture books together, many of which have also been adapted into Julia Donaldson films on the BBC, such as The Highway Rat, Stick Man and The Gruffalo. The Gruffalo story is a particular favourite with children all over the world, with toys, activity books and even woodland trails featuring the Gruffalo characters.

She has written over 150 books, including the Julia Donaldson Songbirds, which is used in schools. Aside from her picture books, Julia Donaldson’s poems are also immensely popular and she has also written a few non-rhyming books for older children.  These include the Princess Mirror-Belle books aimed at 6-9 year olds, and Running on the Cracks, a novel for teenagers. Julia Donaldson books sell all over the world, making her one of the UK’s top selling authors. Julia Donaldson’s new book The Teeny Weeny Genie, illustrated by Anna Currey, came out in July 2020.

Julia Donaldson Facts 

– Julia Donaldson is a CBE and was Children’s Laureate (promotes child reading) from 2011-2013

– She decided she wanted to be a writer when her father gave her a big book of poems for her fifth birthday.

– The Gruffalo, one of the most successful Julia Donaldson stories, has been translated into over 43 different languages, including Scottish Gaelic. If you love the Gruffalo book.