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Q&A with Children's author Giles Andreae

38 replies

RachelMumsnet · 31/03/2011 11:48

To celebrate the launch of his new series of thirteen books, World of Happy, children's author and illustrator Giles Andreae is joining us this week to answer your questions.

Giles is author of many children's classics including Mumsnet Best award winner, Pants, Giraffes Can't Dance, Rumble in the Jungle and The Lion Who Wanted Love, which won the Red House Best picture book in 1998. He is also the creator of the bestselling brands Purple Ronnie and The Interesting Thoughts of Edward Monkton.

Giles dreamed up Purple Ronnie when he was having treatment for cancer in his twenties. He was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma just before he sat his finals and the treatment he had for it means he is now infertile. He's since married and had four children who were all conceived via IVF. World of Happy, was created after a period of chronic depression which completely crippled Giles for about eighteen months. The series launches on April 4th and incorporates thirteen books, each one introducing a different animal dealing with a different emotion such as love, happiness, courage, trust, manners and teamwork. Giles brings to life dancing hippos, knitting gorillas and belching sharks in a series that will be loved by both children and adults.

As an exclusive offer, Egmont is offering mumsnetters the whole set of World of Happy for just £25, which is less than half price. Just visit www.egmont.co.uk/wohmums and enter the code P11-WOHMUM

Send your questions to Giles before the end of day on Tuesday 5th April and we'll link to the answers from this thread shortly after. To find out more about World of Happy, please visit www.worldofhappy.com

OP posts:
pinkhebe · 01/04/2011 13:38

Can't thank you enough for 'rumble in the jungle' and 'commotion in the ocean' my favourites were always the barnacles, and I fear that the rhymes will stay with both myself and my 11 year old son forever Grin

goldbutterfly · 01/04/2011 10:08

Hello - We love all your books and Giraffes Can't Dance was my daughters favourite for ages so we know that one off by heart. Have you published any serious poetry?...I remember from years ago that you were on holiday in Tuscany with your friends (I was just the 'chalet girl') and you wrote a lovely poem about Tuscany and said that you would like to do some more serious poetry. We all know and love you for the funny lyrical rhymes and poems....do you still write serious poetry?

chocoholic · 01/04/2011 08:42

We love your books. I never tire of reading them (which is good as DS is very fond of them).
Can you stop yourself rhyming now or do you actually think in rhymes?

CointreauVersial · 31/03/2011 22:40

Another vote for "There's a House Inside my Mummy"! The illustrator is the sister of a friend of ours; it's a gorgeous book.

I was at Oxford the same time as you - did you have as much fun and do as little work as I did? Grin

PureNewWoolWithPerfectStitches · 31/03/2011 22:38

Giles - I haven't got a question but I just wanted to say Pants was an absolute favourite in our household when my children were younger. Thank you, what a wonderful, wonderful book that dh and I never tired of reading.

ps
I like the bunny pants, dh likes the money pants.

PlumBumMum · 31/03/2011 22:12

I love Purple Ronie the very first Card I bought my dh (then boyfriend) was a Purple Ronnie Card, turned into a bit of a tradition,
dh bought me all the purple Ronnie books for Valentines and we are married 11 years today, I shall be looking out for The World of Happy

DirtyMartini · 31/03/2011 20:06

We loved "There's a House inside my Mummy" too :)

cairnterrier · 31/03/2011 18:06

What's the hardest line you've had to find a rhyme to?

joolzy · 31/03/2011 15:10

my little girl was a baboon in the play they did of Giraffes cant dance... she's almost 13 now and reads the book toher little brother and sister, jut wanted to say thank ou for memories - do you find animals are good way of portraying emotions ans whats yr favourite animal?

Blatherskite · 31/03/2011 14:23

Just wanted to say thank you for "There's a House inside my Mummy". We bought it for DS when I was expecting DD and have since passed it on to friends, who passed it on, who passed it on.... - it's now helping it's 4th child with the wait for a new sibling :)

Have you ever thought of writing an alternate version where the new baby is a girl? We found out at our 20 week scan that new baby was going to be a little sister and kept having to fudge the ending for DS.

StealthPolarBear · 31/03/2011 13:51

Oh DS and I love Giraffes Can't Dance.
I recite it in the car to keep him awake on the way back from nursery - he fills in the gaps when I forget the words :o
Right, better think of a question

Bumperlicioso · 31/03/2011 13:35

Hello Giles, what little things make you happy?

Mine are hot, bubbly baths with a trashy novel, blossom on the trees in spring, and watching my 6 month old baby stop whatever she is doing and going into a trance like state when the theme to The Big Bang Theory comes on (it is the soundtrack to her babyhood) Grin

Love the Edward Monkton stuff by the way.

purplebrickroad · 31/03/2011 12:39

Giles, did you share a house with David Cameron? Was he a swot?