Ian Whybrow (born 3 May 1941) is a British writer of children's books, first published in 1989. He has written over 100 books for children, has been translated into 27 languages and is published in 28 countries. His books are humorous and range from picture books to novels, short stories and poetry.[1]
He began his professional career as a teacher, becoming head of English and head of sixth form at
The John Lyon School in
Harrow on the Hill in north-west London. He subsequently was able to give up teaching to write full-time.[2]
Author
His first book was The Sniff Stories in 1989, which was followed by other books about the character. He is best known for his series of books about Harry and His Bucket Full of Dinosaurs, illustrated by Adrian Reynolds. Other characters that have featured in series of books include Little Wolf, Miss Wire and Sissy Buttons, but it is Harry who has spawned the most books by far.
Harry and the Bucketful of Dinosaurs series has been adapted into a 104 episode animated television series with a slightly different name, Harry and His Bucket Full of Dinosaurs, which premiered on Cartoon Network's Tickle-U block in the United States on 22 August 2005.[3][4]
Little Wolf's book of Badness has been made into an award-winning film for television in 2003, directed by Karsten Kiilerich. Most recently, it was made into a play, which ran at the
Hampstead Theatre, London from December 2007 to January 2008, adapted by the director, Anthony Clark, with Llan Goodman as Little Wolf.[5]
Personal life
He is married to Ann and has two daughters. He lives in
Cambridge, England.[1]
Little Wolf's Book of Badness won the TSB Birmingham Book Award, a UKRA Award for making a substantial contribution to literacy, the Talkie Award for the Best Children's Book and Tape, a nomination for the best TV movie (for a 2003 Christmas special on Channel 4), and was a finalist for the Best Children's Programme in the Broadcast Awards and the Best TV Special in the British Animation Awards. The book has also won awards in Italy and the USA.
Harry and His Bucket Full of Dinosaurs was shortlisted for the Children's Book Award and won both the Sheffield Children's Book Award and the Norfolk Libraries Children's Book Award.
Whiff was nominated for the
Blue Peter Award for the Best Picture Book to Read Aloud.
Where's Tim's Ted has won prizes in France and Italy.
Books
The Sniff Stories (with Toni Goffe) (1989)
Sniff Bounces Back (illustrated by Toni Goffe) (1990)
Quacky Quack-quack! (illustrated by
Russell Ayto) (1991)
Sniff and the Secret of Spalderton Hall (with Toni Goffe) (1991)
Holly and the Skyboard (with Mike Gordon) (1993)
Nice One Sniff (illustrated by Tony Ross) (1994)
The Time Sailors (with Anthony Lewis) (1994)
Fix It With Bubblegum (with Tim Archbold) (1995)
Red's Big Wish Day (with Tim Archbold) (1995)
Can I Stand on Your Head? (with Tim Archbold) (1995)
Little Wolf's Book of Badness (illustrated by Tony Ross) (1995)
Miss Wire and the Three Kind Mice (with EC Clark) (1996)
Little Wolf's Diary of Daring Deeds (illustrated by Tony Ross) (1996)
Sing Boogie Boogie (with Tim Archbold) (1996)
Parcel For Stanley (with Sally Hobson) (1997)
The Bedtime Bear (with Axel Scheffler) (1997)
Harry and the Snow King (illustrated by Adrian Reynolds) (1997)
Little Wolf's Haunted Hall for Small Horrors (illustrated by Tony Ross) (1998)
Goo Goo Gorilla (with Tony Blundell) (1998)
A Baby For Grace (with Christian Birmingham) (1998)
The Christmas Bear (illustrated by Axel Scheffler) (1998)
Sniff the Wonderdog (illustrated by Tony Ross) (1999)
Little Wonder (with Emily Bolam) (1999)
Harry and the Bucketful of Dinosaurs (illustrated by Adrian Reynolds) (1999)
Jump In (with David Melling) (1999)
Where's Tim's Ted? (with Russell Ayto) (1999)
Whiff (illustrated by Russell Ayto) (1999)
Little Wolf's Postbag (illustrated by Tony Ross) (2000)
A Footballer Called Flip (illustrated by Tony Ross) (2000)
The Magic Sneeze (illustrated by Tony Ross) (2000)
Young Robin's Hood (illustrated by Tony Ross) (2000)
Little Wolf: Forest Detective (illustrated by Tony Ross) (2000)
The Tickle Book (with Axel Scheffler) (2000)
Boy Racer (illustrated by Tony Ross) (2000)
Aliens Stole My Dog (illustrated by Tony Ross) (2000)
Whizz the Fleabag (illustrated by Tony Ross) (2000)
Harry and the Robots (illustrated by Adrian Reynolds) (2000)