Picture book of the month

To celebrate the 30th Anniversary of a timeless classic, this month we are delighted to feature picture book favourite, Five Minutes' Peace, written by one of Britain's most treasured author-illustrators, Jill Murphy.

This is the story of Mrs Large the elephant, who just needs five minutes of peace and quiet away from her boisterous children. So, taking refuge in the bathroom, she fills herself a hot, foamy bubble bath and takes in the morning paper and a tray of her favourite breakfast.

But there's never a dull moment with the Larges, and it soon becomes clear that Mum's five minutes of peace is to be very short-lived! 

“Family life is beautifully observed with a humour that appeals to both adult and child.” Daily Telegraph

Jill Murphy has won numerous awards and prizes since she wrote and illustrated her first book, the bestselling The Worst Witch, when she was just eighteen years old. She then went on to create the award-winning Large family series, which has sold over five million copies worldwide, been translated into 19 different languages and adapted for television. Fives Minutes' Peace is Winner of the Best Books for Babies Award and was also shortlisted for the Children's Book Award. Jill's other characters include a small monster called Marlon who stars in the acclaimed pictures books The Last Noo-Noo and All for One. Originally from London, Jill now lives in Cornwall.

Five Minutes' Peace is available from Walker Books in three beautiful anniversary editions.