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Shirley Hughes

91 replies

viques · 02/03/2022 12:18

I always got a bit teary when I read Dogger, so forgive me if I am having a bit of a sniffle now. Rest in Peace Shirley, thank you for writing such comforting re readable stories.

OP posts:
ButtockUp · 02/03/2022 16:25

Yes, I got teary too.
She really was the best.

Whiskyinajar · 02/03/2022 16:29

She was amazing, she was probably my first introduction to illustrated children books as a small child.

I also read them to my son when he was small.

Amazing lady and 94 was a wonderful age.

RIP Shirley Hughes.

LowlyTheWorm · 02/03/2022 16:30

RIP Shirley I hope heaven is as amazing and as full of lovely characters as your books. ☹️❤️🌈

Phyllis321 · 02/03/2022 16:33

I absolutely loved reading the Alfie books to DS. The illustrations were so lovely and comforting.

SuperLoudPoppingAction · 02/03/2022 16:34

She illustrated the 'my naughty little sister' books which were some of the first 'proper' books i read.

Baboutheocelot · 02/03/2022 16:36

Oh no, how sad. I was reading moving molly to my son the other night. I loved that book as a child. She’s left a brilliant legacy behind.

DoraChance · 02/03/2022 16:38

My son loved the Alfie books, she really understood children and families didn't she.

user1493494961 · 02/03/2022 16:39

Yes, she's left a brilliant legacy, absolutely wonderful books. RIP Shirley.

JuneOsborne · 02/03/2022 16:41

Oh, Dogger. My sister favourite book. I remember having to read it to her because I could read and she couldn't (being younger than me). Such a lovely memory.

Thank you Shirley. She touched so many childhoods.

saraclara · 02/03/2022 16:42

I was so sad to hear this today. I know people can't live forever, but I loved her books for the warmth and understanding of what it is to be a child, when I read them (very frequently) to my DDs

IDidntFloatUpTheLaganInABubble · 02/03/2022 16:43

Dogger was my favourite. So sad to hear this news today.

ShowOfHands · 02/03/2022 16:43

I collect children's Christmas books and hers were stunning. Evocative, beautifully illustrated and nostalgic. She was a wonder and will be sorely missed

villainousbroodmare · 02/03/2022 16:46

Ah, she was brilliant and her books have brought and continue to bring such joy.

ShowOfHands · 02/03/2022 16:46

Just some of them

Shirley Hughes
Bimblybomeyelash · 02/03/2022 16:48

I love the Alfie books. The illustrations are so comfortingly familiar, they are such an accurate depiction of family life!

Helocariad · 02/03/2022 16:49

Such a brilliant writer and illustrator.

I love all of her books but a special favourite is the maybe less well known 'Up and up'. It's without words, just pencil drawings, about a girl who can fly by eating a giant magic egg. Beautiful aerial views of houses and gardens and people at a bus stop. Just perfect.

DD1's favourite used to be 'Alfie gets in first' and I have bittersweet memories of reading 'Let's Join In' with DD2 at stupid o'clock in the morning over and over and over again until she knew it by heart and would shout it out to me :-) .

Sniff, Shirley Hughes was a legend.

LosingTheWill2022 · 02/03/2022 16:52

Wonderful books that leave a lasting memory.
My dd wrote to Shirley Hughes and sent her some of her own drawings. Shirley wrote back a really lovely letter!
So a lovely lady as well as fabulous children's author and illustrator.
Thak you Shirley Flowers

Toddlerteaplease · 02/03/2022 17:10

I loved the Alfie books when I was little!

Bugbeau · 02/03/2022 17:17

I loved the Alfie books and Dogger as a child and then loved reading them to my own children. The illustrations are so lovely and comforting. I love that the rooms are always slightly messy with a warm happy glow,,they so perfectly sum up days with small children.

PeskyRooks · 02/03/2022 17:18

Love Shirley Hughes books especially 'Things I like' just so quirky and clever and absolutely beautiful illustration.

Quirrelsotherface · 02/03/2022 18:25

Amazing lady, I will treasure our collection. I found her 'Seasons' range just last week and bought 'Spring'. RIP.

hiredandsqueak · 02/03/2022 18:49

So sad, I loved reading her books as a child, then read them to my dc and am now reading them to dgc, so heartwarming and lovely illustrations. RIP Shirley Hughes

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 02/03/2022 18:50

I can't pick a favourite. I have been following the account run on her behalf and in her name on Twitter for some time and it's been one of the highlights of my day, catching up on those glorious illustrations. My children are late 20s now but the happy hours we spent reading Shirley Hughes' books remain a high point of their early childhoods.

Here are a few illustations I particularly like. Rest in peace, Shirley, and so many thanks.

Shirley Hughes
Shirley Hughes
Shirley Hughes
MissyB1 · 02/03/2022 18:54

@Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g
The illustration from Alfie’s Christmas book is one of my favourites too.
Ds favourite Alfie book was “Alfie gets in first”.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 02/03/2022 19:00

We loved Alfie Gets in First when my daughter was tiny because she did something very similar - locked me in the back garden with her baby brother in his pushchair, and couldn't open the door again. It was long before mobile phones. To sort it out, I had to climb over a fence, leaving the baby Shock, and run round to the scaffolding yard behind us and they brought a tall ladder and got in through a (fortunately open) window on the top floor. Phew!