Toppsta - Childrens Books – Reviews

Lauren Child Biography
Lauren Child is an award-winning British author and illustrator best known for her Charlie and Lola picture books, the Clarice Bean series and the Ruby Redford series. Lauren's first Charlie and Lola story, I Will Not Ever Never Eat A Tomato, was published in 2000 and that year she won the Kate Greenaway medal for the most distinguished illustration in a book for children.

Lauren Child was born on 29th November 1965 in Marlborough, Wiltshire. She briefly studied Art at Manchester Polytechnic and then later at City and Guilds of London Art School before starting her own company making exotic lampshades. She also worked for a design agency before publishing her first two picture books in 1999, one of which was Clarice Bean, That's Me which was shortlisted for the Nestle Smarties Book Prize and was a runner-up for the Greenaway Medal.

Many of Lauren's other books have won awards and she's also co-creator of The Princess and the Pea and Goldilocks and the Three Bears.

A TV series based on the Charlie and Lola books was produced for CBeebies and broadcast three series of 26 episodes. It has been sold around the world and won two BAFTAs in 2007 for Best Children's TV Show and Best Script.

Lauren Child Facts
Lauren was announced as the new UK Children's Laureate in June 2017.

In 2010 Lauren was awarded an MBE for services to literature.

Our favourite Lauren Child Book Characters
Lola - from the Charlie and Lola series
Ruby - from the Ruby Redford series
Clarice - from the Clarice Bean series

Our favourite Lauren Child Book Quotes
“Then I say, "Let's go and brush our teeth." So Lola says, "But Charlie, I can't brush my teeth because somebody is using my tooth." "But who would use your toothbrush?" I ask. Lola says "I think that lion. I saw a lion with my toothbrush and now he's brushing his teeth with it." "But it isn't this your toothbrush Lola?" "Oh," says Lola, "he must be using yours.” (I Am Not Sleepy and I Will Not Go To Bed)

“And they have a display of bananas, which are not bananas but called plantains and are more like a potato pretending to be a banana.” (Utterly Me, Clarice Bean)