Award-winning author Julia Donaldson and illustrator Emily Gravett have paired up for a new picture book. The collaboration will be the first time that Gravett, who writes and illustrates her own books, has illustrated someone else’s work.
Cave Baby is due for publication in autumn 2010 and will include rhyming text, a refrain and a strongly plotted story.
Macmillan has paired a number of high profile illustrators with Donaldson, including Nick Sharratt and David Roberts. Her bestselling The Gruffalo was created with Axel Scheffler and their next book, Tabby McTat, is published by Scholastic in September.
Born in 1948, Julia Donaldson was born and raised in North London.A writer of songs for children’s BBC television, her first publication ‘A Squash and a Squeeze’ in 1993 was as a direct result of her song writing abilities with this indeed originally beginning life as one of Donaldson’s musical compositions. This first book was illustrated by Axel Scheffler and was set to be the beginning of a long and fruitful working relationship and friendship. Taking inspiration from diverse themes such as Chinese folklore (The Gruffalo) and from her own natural ability with rhyme and language Donaldson has revealed a true affinity with children and their fantastical view of the world around them.
