Scheffler, Axel

 

BIOGRAPHY

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. During his time there he spent much of his time drawing sheep and peacocks in the grounds of Corsham Court.

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 (reissued to celebrate 10 years of the award winning partnership in June 2003) 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. It was nominated for the Kate Greenaway Medal, and it won the 1999 Smarties Gold Medal Award for picture books and the 2000 Blue Peter Award for The Best Book to Read Aloud. It was followed by Monkey Puzzle, also nominated for the Kate Greenaway Medal, and Room on the Broom was published September 2001 and also won the 2002 Blue Peter Award for The Best Illustrated Book to Read Aloud. Axel also continues to illustrate for other authors as well, including Ian Whybrow and David Henry Wilson. The next title The Smartest Giant in Town was shortlisted for the Red House Children's Book Award, and the Snail and the Whale was published to great acclaim and won the 2005 Blue Peter Best Illustrated Book to Read Aloud Award.

Axel Scheffler 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. More recently he has been called upon to design Gordon Brown's annual Christmas card! (2006)

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

For interested children further information can be found on www.gruffalo.com

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ILLUSTRATIONS

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Stick Man, written by Julia Donaldson and first published 2008 by Alison Green Books.

"Stick Man lives in the family tree With his Stick Lady Love and their stick children three."

Axel's exuberant illustrations bring to life the wonderful rhyming text from Julia Donaldson. Another classic book from this award winning team.



Axel Scheffler

Mother Goose's Nursery Rhymes, first published 2006 by Macmillan Children's Books.

Mother Goose and her three little goslings, Boo, Lucy and Small, enjoy 88 favourite traditional nursery rhymes. 30 original short stories about Mother Goose and her playful goslings link the rhymes and give them a fresh new context that is a real joy to share.



Axel Scheffler

Axel Scheffler (framed)

Axel Scheffler

Axel Scheffler

Room on the Broom and other Songs, written by Julia Donaldson and first published 2006 by Macmillan Children's Books.



Axel Scheffler

Hamilton's Hats (fomerly Juice the Pig), written by Martine Oborne and illustrated by the award winning illustrator, Axel Scheffler. Hamilton was very fond of hats. His mother was worried about her son's vanity. But she is proved wrong when Hamilton's hats teach him several of life's most important lessons. First published 1997 by Macmillan Children's Books. This edition published 2007.



Axel Scheffler

Axel Scheffler

Axel Scheffler

Hide and Seek Pig: Tales from Acorn Wood. Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's successful lift-the-flap book, first published 2000 by Macmillan Children's Books.



Axel Scheffler

Proverbs from Far and Wide. 'If the baboon could see his own behind, he would laugh too. This and many other proverbs from around the world brilliantly illustrated by Axel Scheffler. Published in 1999, the hardback has been translated into 11 different languages.



Axel Scheffler
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BIBLIOGRAPHY

You can now easily buy or find out more about some of Axel's books by clicking on those that are highlighted. You will be taken directly to the publisher's website but can return quickly by clicking on "Back"

The following is merely a selection from the numerous books written and/or illustrated by Axel Scheffler.

The Piemakers, written by Helen Cresswell, published by Faber
The Bottle Rabbit, written by Bernard McCabe, published by Faber
You're a Hero, Daley B, written by Jon Blake, published by Walker Books 1992
Sam Who Went to Sea, written by Phyllis Root, published by Walker Books
The Tickle Book, written by Ian Whybrow, published by Macmillan Children’s Books
Tales from Acorn Wood: Hide and Seek Pig, written by Julia Donaldson, published 2003 by Macmillan Children’s Books
A Squash and a Squeeze, written by Julia Donaldson, published 2003 by Macmillan Children’s Books
The Gruffalo, written by Julia Donaldson, published 1999 by Macmillan Children’s Books
Monkey Puzzle, written by Julia Donaldson, published 2000 by Macmillan Children’s Books
Room on the Broom, written by Julia Donaldson, published 2001 by Macmillan Children’s Books
The Smartest Giant in Town, written by Julia Donaldson, published by Macmillan Children’s Books
Tales from Acorn Wood: Rabbit’s Nap, written by Julia Donaldson, published by Macmillan Children’s Books
Hamilton's Hats (formerly Juice the Pig), written by Martine Osborne, published 1995 by Macmillan Children’s Books
Jingle Jangle Jungle, published 2003 by Macmillan Children’s Books
Proverbs from Far and Wide, published 1997 by Macmillan Children’s Books
The Snail and the Whale, written by Julia Donaldson, published by Macmillan Children’s Books
Tales from Acorn Wood: Rabbit’s Nap, written by Julia Donaldson, published by Macmillan Children’s Books
Tales from Acorn Wood: Fox's Socks, written by Julia Donaldson, published by Macmillan Children’s Books
Muddle Farm, published 2003 by Macmillan Children’s Books
The Gruffalo's Child, written by Julia Donaldson, published 2004 by Macmillan Children’s Books
Charlie Cook's Favourite Book, written by Julia Donaldson, published 2005 by Macmillan Children's Books
Monster Poems, chosen by Brian Moses, published 2005 by Macmillan Children's Books
Mother Goose's Nursery Rhymes, edited by Alison Green, published 2006 by Macmillan Children's Books
Tiddler, written by Julia Donaldson, published 2007 by Alison Green Books
Stickman, written by Julia Donaldson, published 2008 by Alison Green Books

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