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Emma Chichester Clark

Photo of Emma Chichester Clark

About the Author

“Among the many flavours of children’s books, that of Emma Chichester Clark’s—funny, elegant, and delicious—is unique.”—Quentin Blake

Emma Chichester Clark has written and illustrated numerous acclaimed children’s books, including I Love You, Blue Kangaroo!; Where Are You, Blue Kangaroo?; It Was You, Blue Kangaroo!; No More Kissing!; More!; and Little Miss Muffet’s Count-Along Surprise.

Emma Chichester Clark

Emma Chichester Clark was born in London but lived in Ireland until 1975. She studied at the Chelsea School of Art from 1975 to 1978, followed by a course at the Royal College of Art from 1980 to 1983 where she was taught by Quentin Blake. She has worked as a freelance illustrator for various magazines including New Scientist, Cosmopolitan, and The Sunday Times and has also illustrated numerous book jackets. Her work was exhibited at the Thumb Gallery in 1984 and 1987. Emma lives in West London.

Emma won the Mother Goose Award in 1988 as the most exciting newcomer to children’s book illustration for Listen to This, a collection of short stories compiled by Laura Cecil, her agent. This received wide critical acclaim when it was first published by The Bodley Head in 1988. Her first picture book for The Bodley Head, Catch That Hat! was published in 1988, followed by The Story of Horrible Hilda and Henry in the same year.

Emma has a cat called Posy, whom she named after the illustrator, Posy Simmonds, and they live in West London near the River Thames. Emma’s favorite pastime is watching the geese and the ducks, but she makes Posy stay at home.


PRAISE

WHERE ARE YOU BLUE KANGAROO?

“The bright, Easter-egg-colored pictures, filled with whimsical detail, appealingly illustrate Lily’s panic and relief and infuse the story’s messages about responsibility with a lightheartedness that children will embrace . . . good choice for beginning readers.”—Booklist

I LOVE YOU, BLUE KANGAROO!

“A wholly satisfying story of the bond between a child and her favorite animal, enhanced by large, expressive watercolors.”—Starred, School Library Journal

LITTLE MISS MUFFET’S COUNT-ALONG SURPRISE

—An American Bookseller Pick of the Lists

“[A] wonderful variation on the nursery rhyme.”—Starred, Kirkus Reviews

“Will have preschoolers cheering.”—Publishers Weekly

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