Mini Grey
Mini Grey is a British illustrator and writer of children's books, especially picture books for young children. She won the annual Kate Greenaway Medal from the professional librarians, recognising the year's best-illustrated children's book published in the UK, for The Adventures of the Dish and the Spoon, published by Jonathan Cape in 2006.[1][2]
WorldCat reports from participating libraries that her most widely held work is Traction Man is Here, about the household adventures of a boy's action figure; published in 2005 by Cape and in the US by Random House (Alfred A. Knopf).[3]
Life and work
Mini Grey was born in a Mini car in Newport, a city in southern Wales. She uses only her nickname, after the automobile model. She was raised in Taplow, Buckinghamshire, England.[4][5]
As of 2007 she lives in Oxford with her partner Tony and a baby son.[4]
Career
As a professional school project Grey created a pop-up version of Gulliver's Travels.[4]
Egg Drop (Cape, 2002; Knopf, 2009) – Egg Drop at WorldCat
- "... Presents the story of the Egg that wanted to fly."
- "The egg has always dreamed of being able to fly, but it doesn't really know much about making the dream a reality. The only method that seems guaranteed to work is to get to a very high place and then jump. Not a good idea for an egg."
- inspired by Humpty Dumpty[4]
The Pea and the Princess (Cape, 2003); US title, The Very Smart Pea and the Princess-to-be (Knopf, 2003)
- 'Once upon a time there was an enchanting fairytale about a prince who was looking for a real princess to be his bride. This is a reworking of the classic fairytale told from the point of view of the pea.' --The Princess and the Pea in libraries (WorldCat catalog)
- 'The pea gives its own version of what happened in the fairy tale, "The Princess and the Pea", from the time of its birth in the Palace Garden until it helps arrange a royal marriage.' --The very smart pea ... in libraries (WorldCat catalog), first US edition
Biscuit Bear (Cape, 2004); US title, Ginger Bear (Knopf, 2007) – Biscuit Bear/ Ginger Bear at WorldCat
Traction Man
- Traction Man is Here (2005)
- Traction Man Meets Turbo Dog (2008)
- Traction Man and the Beach Odyssey (2011; Knopf, 2012)
- adventures of Traction Man, a boy's action figures, and his sidekick Scrubbing Brush
The Adventures of the Dish and the Spoon (2006; Cape, Knopf) – The Adventures at WorldCat
Works
As author and illustrator
All these books have been published by Jonathan Cape in the UK and by the Random House imprint Alfred A. Knopf in the US Where one date is given, the American edition appeared in the same calendar year.[6]
- Egg Drop (2002; US 2009)
- The Pea and the Princess (2003); US title, The Very Smart Pea and the Princess-to-be
- Biscuit Bear (2004); US title, Ginger Bear (2007)
- Traction Man is Here (2005)
- The Adventures of the Dish and the Spoon (2006)
- Traction Man Meets Turbo Dog (2008)
- Three by the Sea (2010)
- Traction Man and the Beach Odyssey (2011; 2012)
- Toys in Space (US edition: Alfred A. Knopf, 2013) —forthcoming[6]
As illustrator only
- The Crocodile is Coming! (2005)
- Into the Woods (2006), by Lyn Gardner —400-page fantasy novel[6]
- The Twin Giants (2007), by Dick King-Smith —a picture book[6]
- Jim, Who Ran Away from His Nurse, and Was Eaten by a Lion (2009)
- —movable book edition of the poem by Hilaire Belloc (1870–1953)[6]
- Out of the Woods (2010), by Lyn Gardner —350-page sequel to Into the Woods[6]
Awards
Grey has won three annual book awards.
- Biscuit Bear won the 2004 Nestlé Smarties Book Prize, ages category 6–8 years[7]
- Traction Man is Here won the 2005 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award, Picture Book[8]
- The Adventures of the Dish and the Spoon won the 2007 Kate Greenaway Medal[1][2]
- Runners up, etc.
- The Pea and the Princess made the 2003 Greenaway Medal shortlist[9]
- Biscuit Bear made the 2005 Blue Peter Book Award shortlist
- Traction Man is Here made the 2005 Greenaway shortlist,[9] the 2006 Blue Peter shortlist, and the 2007 Hampshire Illustrated Book Award shortlist[10]
- The Adventures of the Dish and the Spoon was bronze runner up for the 2006 Smarties Prize, ages 0–5 years[7]
- Jim, Who Ran Away from His Nurse, and Was Eaten by a Lion made the 2011 Greenaway shortlist[9]
References
- 1 2 (Greenaway Winner 2007). Living Archive: Celebrating the Carnegie and Greenaway Winners. CILIP. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
- 1 2 "Mini Grey is the runaway winner of the 2007 CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal". Press release 21 June 2007. CILIP. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
- ↑ "Formats and Editions of Traction man is here". WorldCat. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
- 1 2 3 4 "Mini Grey: Winner of the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal 2007 for 'The Adventures of the Dish and the Spoon". Press release 21 June 2007. CILIP. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
- ↑ "Author Spotlight: Mini Grey". Kids@Random. Random House.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Grey, Mini". Library of Congress Authorities. Retrieved 2012-08-31.
(Point of entry to the US national library records for Grey. Select "LC Online Catalog".) - 1 2 "Nestlé Children's Book Prize". Booktrust. Retrieved 29 November 2012.
- ↑ "Boston Globe–Horn Book Awards: Winners and Honor Books 1967 to present". The Horn Book.
- 1 2 3 Press Desk (directory). CILIP. Retrieved 18 July 2012. Quote: "media releases relating to the CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Children's Book Awards in date order." (2002 to 2006 releases concern 2001 to 2005 awards.)
- ↑ "Hampshire Illustrated Book Award" (top page). Hampshire County Council.
External links
- Mini Grey at Library of Congress Authorities, with 18 catalogue records