Julia Donaldson
Julia Donaldson, Children's Laureate 2011-2013, is one of the UK's best-loved writers for children. Her books with illustrator Axel Scheffler have sold over 75 million copies, and other distinguished illustrators with whom she has worked include Lydia Monks, Nick Sharratt, Rebecca Cobb, Emily Gravett, Helen Oxenbury, David Roberts and Charlotte Voake.
Her latest collaboration with illustrator Axel Scheffler is the No 1 bestseller Jonty Gentoo (Alison Green Books) which was also the winner of the 2025 British Book Award for Book of the Year: Children's Illustrated, while the most recent edition to their Tales from Acorn Wood series is Hare's New Dress (Macmillan). Christmas 2025 will see the animated adaptation of The Scarecrows' Wedding (Alison Green Books) being shown on the BBC.
In exciting news, it was announced that there will be a sequel to bestselling The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo's Child picture books, which will be published in 2026.
Julia's latest book has been illustrated by Thomas Docherty. Follow the Swallow (Farshore, June 2025) sees Chack the blackbird and Apollo the swallow go on a round-the-world adventure in a delightfully funny story about friendship and change
2024 saw the publication of The Amazing World of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler (Macmillan and Alison Green Books), a lavishly illustrated visual guide celebrating their iconic creative partnership.
Last year Julia also teamed up again with Lydia Monks for the delightful The Tooth Fairy and the Crocodile (Macmillan). Their hilarious Princess Mirror-Belle series (Macmillan) is a delight for middle grade readers and has been dramatised by the BBC.
Julia divides her time between West Sussex and Edinburgh. Her books have won many awards including the Blue Peter Award for Best Illustrated Book to Read Aloud for Room on the Broom (Macmillan), the WH Smith Children's Book of the Year for Zog (Scholastic), and the Scottish Royal Mail Award for What the Ladybird Heard (Macmillan). The TV films of The Gruffalo and Room on the Broom have been nominated for Oscars. She was awarded a CBE in the New Year's Honours List 2018.
