Lauren Child
By Charlotte Hayhoe & Catherine Janson
Biography
• Born in 1967 in Wiltshire
• Middle child of three sisters. Parents both teachers.
• Studies at Manchester Polytechnic and City and
Guilds London Art School.
• Didn‟t like either of them so she left after a year
• Started own chandelier company making exotic
lampshades
• Business manager suggested she should start writing
children‟s books and design a product range around it
– Clarice Bean in 1999
• She illustrates her own books
http://www.magicpencil.britishcouncil.org/artists/child/ (29/4/09)
How She Illustrates...
• She enjoys using computers for her work
• Draws figures in pencil
• Scans drawings into the computer
• Tidies up on computer and print on back cartridge
paper
• Finishes with paint or a collage and scans back into
the computer
• Inspired by her father because he ran an „amazing‟
art department which made her want to draw.
• Snoopy is her greatest source of inspiration for her
drawings
How she writes...
• Eye-opener I'm not a naturally early riser but I get up at about 7.30.
My daily routine depends on whether I'm writing or illustrating. Often I
stay with friends in Wiltshire for a few days to write because there
are fewer interruptions
• Artist's materials I use any old pencil. The most important thing for
me is the fabric I use in the books. I photocopy the patterns and
reproduce them for my characters' clothes. In Charlie and Lola, the
pyjamas Lola wears are made from the fabric of an old nightdress that
my mother made for me when I was a baby.
• Background music When I'm writing a novel, listening to music helps me
set the scene. I listened to Brit Pop when I wrote the first Clarice
Bean book because it seemed to suit the character. The mood of the
music is optimistic and when I listened I felt energised.
• Always have with me I try to carry a notebook so that I can write
down ideas. More often I use it to write my shopping list.
• Albiston, I (2007) The world of Lauren Child, children‟s author
Telegraph
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/3668862/The-world-of-Lauren-Child-childrens-
author.html (30/04/2009)
Her Inspiration...
• Favourite books as a child were „Shrinking of Treehorn‟ by
Edward Gorey and the Betsy Byers books
• Contemporary illustrators and authors she likes include Russell
Ayto, Lydia Monks, Margaret Calver
• She bases her characters on people she sees. She says that Lola
was based on a Danish girl who she saw on a train. This girl was
always asking lots of questions and so Lauren thought to base
her character on this girl.
• Story comes first but sometimes she might get a good visual
idea first to set a story on
• Her favourite book so far is „What planet are you from, Clarice
Bean‟
• She thinks a successful story includes appealing to adults as well
as children, and it shouldn‟t be patronising.
http://www.jubileebooks.co.uk/jubilee/magazine/authors/lauren_child/lauren_child_interview.as
p (29/4/09)
Clarice Bean Spells Trouble
A review by a child
„I absolutely loved Clarice Bean spells
trouble. I don‟t really like reading but
once I had read the first page of this
I didn‟t want to put it down. I wanted
to read all of the Clarice Bean books so
for my birthday I asked my Nan to buy
me the other Clarice Bean books. I
already had another one called Utterly
Me Clarice Bean so I read that one in
three days. Lauren Child‟s, Clarice Bean
Spells Trouble is really really funny. I
loved the way she says it you can
picture in your head.‟
http://www.reviewcentre.com/review419808.html (29/4/09)
Utterly Me Clarice Bean
A review by a parent
„My seven year old daughter read this
in an afternoon and utterly loved it.
I read it too with a good deal of
amusement and much admiration for
the brilliant writing and illustration.
Lauren Child presents the fun and
frustrations of childhood with great
wit and sympathy and a total lack of
sentimentality. The first person
narrative beautifully evokes the
language of the primary school
playground, while giving an
inimitable, child's take on her own
and the adult world.‟ (2003)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Utterly-Clarice-Bean-Lauren-Child/dp/1843623048
What planet are you from,
Clarice Bean?
A review by a parent
„A perfect introduction to the wider
world of older children for my five
year old daughter. A great cast of
a range of characters and an easy
way into thinking about our effects
on the world. We laugh at
Grandad‟s sandwich every time,
even before we turn the page! My
favourite bedtime book (I think
she likes it too).‟
http://www.amazon.co.uk/what-planet-are-Clarice-Bean/dp/1841211044
TV Series Charlie and Lola
On her TV series
• Lauren's stories are about issues that
affect children.
• She says: For Charlie and Lola, I set
myself quite strict rules in that I only
ever do stories that are based on
things, very tiny child issues about
sleeping and eating.
•
• "We've managed to think of a lot of
those for the TV series. I think the
best ones work when they're things
about being envious, or not wanting to
give someone a present because you
want it, the really tiny subjects which
actually apply to everybody.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2005/10_october/10/lola_chil
d.shtml
Charlie & Lola
I am really ever so not well
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WevTS8TzmbI
The Lauren Child Website
http://www.milkmonitor.com/main.htm
On the Lauren Child website you can
find out about
•the author
•her books
•the characters
•TV series
• and apply to receive the newsletter
…as well as viewing some of Lauren
Child‟s illustrations.
I want a pet
I really want a pet.
“Please Mum, can I have a
pet?”
Mum says, “Well – perhaps
something with not too much
fur.”
Dad says, “Maybe something
that lives outside.”
Granny says, “Nothing with a
buzz.” It interferes with
her hearing aid.
Grandad says, “Stuffed pets
are very reliable.”
What Planet are you from,
Clarice Bean?
In school we are learning about
the planet of Earth. Our planet
earth is quite small compared to
Jupiter or Saturn but compared
to the sun Pluto is a peppercorn.
It‟s hard to think of ourselves
living on a planet because it
doesn‟t feel like we are standing
on something round. It‟s
amazing the sea doesn‟t spill of
at the edges, but that‟s gravity
for you!
I can do anything that‟s
everything ALL on my own
Lola says,
“I can button up my coat ALL
on my own.
I can use the computer ALL
on my own.
And I can DEFINATELY pour
pink milk ALL on my own.”
I say, “Let me help, Lola.”
But she says, “NO. I can do
anything that‟s everything
ALL on my own.”
Some more of her books...
• Beware of the Storybook Wolves
• Who‟s Afraid of the Big, Bad Book
• The Pesky Rat
• Pippi Longstocking
• Clarice Bean That‟s Me
• I Will Never Not Ever Eat A Tomato
• I‟m Not Sleepy and I Will Not Go To Bed
• I Am Too Absolutely Small for School
• Dan‟s Angel