Live webchat with Children's Laureate Julia Donaldson - Friday 2 March 12-1pm

artygran

How did your collaboration with Alex Scheffler come about? He's a brilliant illustrator and it seems he was just made to illustrate your wonderful stories. Room on the Broom is one of the first proper story books my grandson and I read together and he would bring it out again and again.

The publisher of our first book, "A Squash and a Squeeze", put Axel and me together. Actually he was the third illustrator they approached! I'm so glad now that the other two couldn't do it as I think he's brilliant.

rosiemus

Me too. We absolutely love all her books (I think I enjoy them as much as my GC!)

My question for Julia is this: I have often wondered when reading the books whether the idea for the story comes first and the rhyme round it - or whether you begin with the rhyme and sees where it takes you?

What a lovely question! The story comes first, absolutely. I only get my notebook out once I've completely worked out all the twists and turns.

mjhubba

Hello Julia. I know you have said that you are very concerned about library closures. I am currently campaigning to save the Upper Norwood Joint Library in Crystal Palace, London, SE19. At present we have until the 31st of this month to persuade Croydon council to re-instate their funding. How important do you think libraries are for our children? Would you be able to help us in some way with our campaign?
With respect and best wishes (and, speaking as a parent, huge thanks for all the wonderful books you have made. You have given us hours of pleasure!)
Michelle

I think libraries are vital for children. Where else do you get all that choice? And the books are free! Plus there are great Rhyme Time sessions. I'm lobbying MPs and going to do a big libraries tour. It's a bit harder for me to get involved in every individual campaign, I'm afraid.

jakesgran

I would like to know more about the new Goat book. One if my DGC is due to start playgroup after Easter so rather timely for me. Did you write it because of a personal experience - or was it something you were approached to do? I've just ordered it

I'm so thrilled you've ordered "Goat Goes to Playgroup". I wanted to write an animals book for the wonderful Nick Sharratt to illustrate and I was trying to think of a setting, when suddenly "Playgroup" sprang to mind. Poor Goat is a bit dyspraxic but very lovable. I hope the book will be a good introduction to playgroup.

baggage

Did you always want to be a writer? And did you always want to write for children?

When I was 5 my dad gave me a poetry book and I decided then and there that I wanted to be a poet! But I had many other aspirations between then and now, including a desire to go on the stage.

northerngran

I had to jump in while I remember to ask a quick question (a busy week ahead)

I would love to know out of all your books which is your favourite? It's a tough call but I think The Smartest Giant In Town gets my vote

I have a weakness for The Snail and the Whale, but the book I'm proudest of is my novel for teenagers, Running on the Cracks.

peekaboo

Do you know what your characters look like before they are drawn? So often the illustrations seem perfect. Do you give very detailed briefs?

I do usually have an idea in my head, but the illustrator's interpretation is almost always quite different! However, I try not to interfere too much, since the illustrator isn't breathing down my neck when I do the writing part!

hummingbird

Where did the idea for the Gruffalo spring from? Did you think up the whole story at the start or did it emerge as you went along? It is the most wonderful story!

The Gruffalo was going to be about a tiger, but I couldn't fit a tiger into my rhyme scheme. I more or less thought of the whole story before I started writing, but the bits about roasted fox etc were added in a second draft.

glassortwo

Hi Julia,

At bedtime last night my Dg chose Zog, I applaud the girl wanting to be a Dr rather than wear a frilly dress especially in this age of Barbie hype for pink and frilly, was this intentional.

I'm glad you like the feminist aspect of Zog! Though actually Princess Pearl's ambition to be a doctor sprang, I think, from my husband's profession (he works in a children's hospital).

CariGransnet

I couldn't not ask a question! We have loved the films of The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo's Child and are hoping there are more in the pipeline. Are there?! And if so what's next?

There is going to be an animation of Room on the Broom next Christmas. I've seen the progress so far and I think it'll be wonderful.

sofasogood

It seems to me that rhyme is absolutely brilliant for maintaining interest in books for adults. I have noticed that the books I've most enjoyed reading to my children and grandchildren have been rhyming ones. Was that thought at the back of your mind?!

The reason I so often write in rhyme is that I was a songwriter long before I turned my hand to children's books. The songs were almost always rhyming ones, so it came naturally to me. I agree that rhyming books are more memorable, but sometimes it's not appropriate. A few of my books, such as The Troll and The Princess and The Wizard don't rhyme, but there's usually some element of pattern in them all.

pinkhater

Not really a question but I just had to take the opportunity to thank you Julia for all the pleasure you give to us children's book lovers. It must be a great feeling knowing that your books will be read for generations to come and that somebody somewhere is reading or listening to one of your books at any time of the day or night. Your skill with rhyme is amazing. I'm sure that you must actually think in rhyme, as you make it seem so effortless.
I look forward to all your books that I haven't yet encountered.
Thank you.

It's so lovely to be appreciated! Thank you. Actually the rhyming isn't effortless - it's quite hard work getting it to scan properly. I could probably burst into rhyme on the spur of the moment but it wouldn't be very classy rhyme!

kittyp

I would also like to thank you for many, many hours of reading pleasure. We also enjoy the CDs of a number of the books. I know you play the guitar but wondered whether you write the music for the songs yourself as well as the words?

Yes, I do write the tunes as well as the words. But my husband plays the guitar much better than me and when we do stage shows he always accompanies me. I'm thrilled now that the publishers have allowed me to produce three books of my songs, which all come with CDs - and the best bit of all is that I got proper musicians to play, as I really don't like synthesised music. The latest of these books is called "The Gruffalo's Child and Other Songs" and it contains nine songs.

ThisIsNotWhatIWas

Thanks, thanks a million, thanks without end. Is there a tune or rhythm you would recommend for the song in the smartest giant? We're new to it and I can't figure out one that works . My 2 and a half year old loves all of your books that we have read to him, at the moment Room On The Broom aka Witch Story is his absolute favourite. I don't know how we would have established a bedtime routine without the help of poor Stick Man and his odyssey, I even knitted him leaves and all. . Apologies for the bad spelling and grammar I'm using my phone.

Yes, there is a Smartest Giant tune! (But you're very welcome to make up your own.) You can hear my tune on the audio version, or better still in the song book called "Room on the Broom and Other Songs".

grannyactivist

H Julia and thanks for joining us here on Gransnet.
I grew up in a council house in a very deprived area, in a household which would now be termed as 'underclass'. Books were my salvation. I learned to read and devour books and my life went in a completely different direction from my contemporaries. Apart from 'The Ruggles' though, the characters in the books I read were all middle class and their lives had no similarity to mine. I know that one of my heroes, Bob Holman who you no doubt met when you were writer in residence at Easterhouse, has expressed the hope that you "will now write stories which depict the courage and positive attributes of children in places like Easterhouse". Have you written/do you plan to write stories like this?

Please give my regards to the wonderful Bob Holman. My three years in Easterhouse were among the most worthwhile ones of my life, specially the adult writers' group which I set up and which is still going. However, ideas for books don't usually come from me thinking, "What can I do to improve the lot of a specific group of people?" Actually I think that if the hero is an animal that is often quite universal and could apply to any child, rich or poor. I certainly don't write about rich children!