Jeanne Willis

Jeanne Willis (born 5 November 1959) is an English author of several children's books, including The Monster Bed (1986) and the Dr. Xargle's Book of... series (1988–2004). Willis was also a contributor to the authorised Winnie-the-Pooh sequel, The Best Bear in All the World.

Biography

Willis was born 5 November 1959, in St Albans, England to David Alfred and Dorothy Hilda Celia Willis, both of whom were teachers. She attended Watford College of Art, where she received a diploma in advertising writing in 1979. She married Ian James Wilcock on 26 May 1989, and the couple has two children.

As both a child and adult, Willis has had an active imagination, which has sometimes resulted in psychic distress. For instance, she remembers a time as a child when she would believe "wolves were following [her] home from school, so [she'd] arrive back sweating". As an adult, she ended up in Cromwell Hospital's psychiatric ward while she was working in a creative position at an advertising agency. After her hospitalization, she began writing full-time.

Awards and honours

In January 2004, The Guardian named Willis their Author of the Month. In October 2011, they included Willis's Big Bad Bun on their list of recommended reading for children aged 5–7.

Publications

Standalone books

The Tale of Georgie Grub, Andersen Press, 1981, Holt, 1982.

The Tale of Fearsome Fritz, Andersen Press, 1982, Holt, 1983.

The Tale of Mucky Mabel, Andersen Press, 1984.

The Monster Bed, illus. by Susan Varley, Andersen Press, 1986, Lothrop, 1987.

The Long Blue Blazer, illus. by Susan Varley, Andersen Press, 1987, Dutton, 1988.

Toffee Pockets, illus. by George Buchanan, Bodley Head, 1992.

In Search of the Hidden Giant, illus. by Ruth Brown, Andersen Press, 1993,

Republished as In Search of the Giant, Dutton, 1994.

The Lion's Roar, illus. by Derek Collin, Ginn, 1994.

The Rascally Cake, illus. by Paul Korky, Andersen Press, 1994.

Two Sea Songs, Ginn, 1994.

Tom's Lady of the Lamp, illus. by Amy Burch, Macdonald Young, 1995.

The Princess and the Parlour Maid, illus. by Pauline Hazelwood, Macdonald Young, 1995.

Wilbur and Orville Take Off, illus. by Roger Wade Walker, Macdonald Young, 1995.

Dolly Dot, Ginn, 1995.

Flower Pots and Forget-Me-Nots, Ginn, 1995.

The Pet Person, illus. by Tony Ross, Andersen Press, 1996, Dial, 1996.

The Pink Hare, illus. by Ken Brown, Andersen Press, 1996.

What Do You Want to Be, Brian, illus. by Mary Rees, Andersen Press, 1996.

Sloth's Shoes, illus. by Tony Ross, Andersen Press, 1997, Kane/Miller (Brooklyn, NY), 1998.

The Wind in the Wallows, illus. by Tony Ross, Andersen Press, 1998.

The Boy Who Lost His Belly Button, illus. by Tony Ross, Andersen Press, 1999, Dorling Kindersley, 2000.

Susan Laughs, illus. by Tony Ross, Andersen Press, 1999, Henry, 2000.

Tinkerbill, illus. by Paul Cox, Collins Publishers, 1999.

Parrot Goes to Playschool, illus. by Mark Birchall, Andersen Press, 2000, published as Be Quiet, Parrot, Carolrhoda, 2000.

What Did I Look Like When I Was a Baby, illus. by Tony Ross, Putnam Press, 2000.

Take Turns, Penguin, illus. by Mark Birchall, Carolrhoda, 2000.

Be Gentle, Python, illus. by Mark Birchall, Carolrhoda, 2001.

No Biting, Panther, illus. by Mark Birchall, Carolrhoda, 2001.

No Biting, Puma, illus. by Mark Birchall, Carolrhoda, 2001.

Do Little Mermaids Wet Their Beds, illus. by Penelope Jossen, Albert Whitman, 2001.

Don't Let Go, illus. by Tony Ross, Andersen Press, 2002, G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2003.

The Truth or Something, Henry Holt & Co., 2002, originally published in England as The Hard Man of the Swings.

The Boy Who Thought He Was a Teddy Bear: A Fairy Tale, illus. by Susan Varley, Peachtree, 2002.

I Want to Be a Cowgirl, illus. by Tony Ross, Henry Holt & Co., 2002.

Sleepover!: The Best Ever Party Kit, illus. by Lydia Monks, Candlewick Press, 2002.

Rocket Science, Faber & Faber, 2002.

Naked without a Hat, Faber & Faber, 2003, Delacorte

When Stephanie Smiled, illus. by Penelope Jossen, Andersen Press, 2003.

Adventures of Jimmy Scar, Andersen Press, 2003.

New Shoes, Andersen Press, 2003.

The Beast of Crowsfoot Cottage, Macmillan Children's Books, 2003.

I Hate School, illus. by Tony Ross, Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2004.

Shhh, illus. by Tony Ross, Hyperion Books for Children, 2004.

The Magic Potty Show with Trubble and Trixie, illus. by Edward Eaves, Pan MacMillan, 2004.

Bits, Boobs and Blobs, illus. by Lydia Monks, Walker Books, 2004.

Snogs, Sex and Soulmates, illus. by Lydia Monks, Walker Books, 2004.

Zitz, Glitz and Body Blitz, illus. by Lydia Monks, Walker Books, 2004.

Manky Monkey, illustrated by Tony Ross, Andersen Press, 2004.

Operation Itchy, illus. by Penny Dann, Candlewick Press, 2005.

Secret Fairy Talent Show, illus. by Penny Dann, Orchard Books, 2005.

Misery Moo, illus. by Tony Ross, Henry Holt & Co., 2005.

Tadpole's Promise, illus. by Tony Ross, Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2005.

Never Too Little to Love, illus. by Jan Fearnley, Candlewick Press, 2005.

Dumb Creatures, illus. by Nicola Slater, Macmillan Children's Books, 2005.

Daft Bat, illus. by Tony Ross, Andersen Press, 2006.

Gorilla! Gorilla, illus. by Tony Ross, Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2006.

Really Rude Rhino, illus. by Tony Ross, Andersen Press, 2006.

Dozy Mare, Andersen Press, 2006.

Mayfly Day, Andersen Press, 2006.

Rat Heaven, Macmillan Children's Books, 2006.

Grill Pan Eddy, illus. by Tony Ross, Andersen Press, 2007.

Who's in the Bathroom, illus. by Adrian Reynolds, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2007.

Delilah D. at the Library, illus. by Rosie Reeve, Clarion Books, 2007.

Killer Gorilla, Andersen Press, 2007.

Blue Monster Wants It All, illus. by Jenni Desmond, Little Tiger, 2018.

The Monster Storm, illus. by Susan Varley, Andersen Press, Lothrop, 1995.

"Crazy Jobs" series

The "Crazy Jobs" books are illustrated by Korky Paul and published by Orchard Books.

Annie the Gorilla Nanny, 2005.

Gabby the Vampire Cabby, 2005.

Jeff, the Witch's Chef, 2005.

Lillibet, the Monster Vet, 2005.

Norman the Demon Doorman, 2005.

Vanessa, the Werewolf Hairdresser, 2005.

Bert the Fairies' Fashion Expert, 2005.

Iddy Bogey the Ogre Yogi, 2005.