Lara Jones
Encyclopedia
Lara Jones was a British artist, children's author and illustrator
. She is best remembered for her Poppy Cat
series of books, written for the very young, which have been published in 20 languages and sold nearly two million copies.
, Leicestershire and spent her childhood in Shropshire
. Both of her parents were writers. Her father was Ivan Jones
the best selling fiction writer and poet, and her mother Mal Lewis Jones
was also a children's writer. Lara was the first born of their three children. Lara studied art at Canterbury College of Art and then at Cheltenham College
and went on to work at the Royal Academy
and the Inkshed artists' agency before becoming a full time writer and illustrator.
series which are published by Macmillan/Campbell Books
. These books, for the very young, have sold in 20 languages and nearly two million copies. They are published in Brazil, Spain, France, Italy, Mexico, Finland, Denmark, Ireland, Holland and Japan as well as other countries. Television animation rights are currently in production with Nick Junior.
Jones was awarded the 2004 Sheffield Baby Book prize (bronze) and then a Booktrust Early Years Award for "Poppy Cat's Farm" in 2005.
"Poppy Cat Hug" won the Bronze Award at the Right Start Best Toy Award 2006 and
"Swap the Scene Poppy Cat" is a recent Bronze Award winner of the Practical Parenting Award 2006.
Good Night, Poppy Cat was acclaimed as one of the best ten books for the under fives in the Independent, by Boyd Tonkin.
The recently published, "Poppy Cat's First Word Book" has been highly praised by pre-school magazine containing over 50 words which toddlers can learn.
She illustrated numerous other books, including her own picture books, "I Love Hugs" and "I Love My Potty". Other books illustrated by Jones include "Mermaid Poems" (Clare Bevan), Mermaid Stories, "Fairy Poems" and "Fairy Stories" (all published by MacMillan) as well as "Babies Can" by Ian Whybrow
and "Pip and the Edge of Heaven" by Elizabeth Liddle (Lion, 2002). Her final book was I Want a Mini Tiger written by Joyce Dunbar and published by Macmillan Books. She also had other projects in the pipeline, notably a book with Orchard Books, for which she had done initial drawings.
Lara did not support cruelty to living things, and from the early age of five was a vegetarian.
Her early death was the result of malignant melanoma
.
Illustrator
An Illustrator is a narrative artist who specializes in enhancing writing by providing a visual representation that corresponds to the content of the associated text...
. She is best remembered for her Poppy Cat
Poppy Cat
Poppy Cat is the main character in a series of books created by British illustrator and writer Lara Jones. The books are published by Campbell Books . Several titles have been published including Poppy Cat's Play House, Poppy Cat's Christmas, Poppy Cat Loves Rainbows, Poppy Cat's Dream, and Poppy...
series of books, written for the very young, which have been published in 20 languages and sold nearly two million copies.
Early life
Lara Kate Jones, was born in Ashby-de-la-ZouchAshby-de-la-Zouch
Ashby-de-la-Zouch, — Zouch being pronounced "Zoosh" — often shortened to Ashby, is a small market town and civil parish in North West Leicestershire, England, within the National Forest. It is twinned with Pithiviers in north-central France....
, Leicestershire and spent her childhood in Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
. Both of her parents were writers. Her father was Ivan Jones
Ivan Jones (author)
Ivan Jones is a British writer of fiction. His work includes novels, picture books, plays, poetry anthologies, television series and many adaptations for BBC Radio.-Novels and Picture Books:...
the best selling fiction writer and poet, and her mother Mal Lewis Jones
Mal Lewis Jones
- Background :She was born in Kidderminster, England and attended a private school before moving to Kidderminster High School for Girls at eleven. She continued her education at Warwick University, where she read English and American Literature. Her tutors were Germaine Greer, Harold Beaver and...
was also a children's writer. Lara was the first born of their three children. Lara studied art at Canterbury College of Art and then at Cheltenham College
Cheltenham College
Cheltenham College is a co-educational independent school, located in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England.One of the public schools of the Victorian period, it was opened in July 1841. An Anglican foundation, it is known for its classical, military and sporting traditions.The 1893 book Great...
and went on to work at the Royal Academy
Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
and the Inkshed artists' agency before becoming a full time writer and illustrator.
As a writer
She published many books, but is best remembered for her Poppy CatPoppy Cat
Poppy Cat is the main character in a series of books created by British illustrator and writer Lara Jones. The books are published by Campbell Books . Several titles have been published including Poppy Cat's Play House, Poppy Cat's Christmas, Poppy Cat Loves Rainbows, Poppy Cat's Dream, and Poppy...
series which are published by Macmillan/Campbell Books
Macmillan Publishers
Macmillan Publishers Ltd, also known as The Macmillan Group, is a privately held international publishing company owned by Georg von Holtzbrinck Publishing Group. It has offices in 41 countries worldwide and operates in more than thirty others.-History:...
. These books, for the very young, have sold in 20 languages and nearly two million copies. They are published in Brazil, Spain, France, Italy, Mexico, Finland, Denmark, Ireland, Holland and Japan as well as other countries. Television animation rights are currently in production with Nick Junior.
Jones was awarded the 2004 Sheffield Baby Book prize (bronze) and then a Booktrust Early Years Award for "Poppy Cat's Farm" in 2005.
"Poppy Cat Hug" won the Bronze Award at the Right Start Best Toy Award 2006 and
"Swap the Scene Poppy Cat" is a recent Bronze Award winner of the Practical Parenting Award 2006.
Good Night, Poppy Cat was acclaimed as one of the best ten books for the under fives in the Independent, by Boyd Tonkin.
The recently published, "Poppy Cat's First Word Book" has been highly praised by pre-school magazine containing over 50 words which toddlers can learn.
She illustrated numerous other books, including her own picture books, "I Love Hugs" and "I Love My Potty". Other books illustrated by Jones include "Mermaid Poems" (Clare Bevan), Mermaid Stories, "Fairy Poems" and "Fairy Stories" (all published by MacMillan) as well as "Babies Can" by Ian Whybrow
Ian Whybrow
Ian Whybrow is a prolific writer of children’s books since his first was published in 1989. He has written over 100 books for children, has been translated into 27 languages and is published in 28 countries. When interviewed on BBC Radio Oxford on 24 March 2009 he stated that he had written 110...
and "Pip and the Edge of Heaven" by Elizabeth Liddle (Lion, 2002). Her final book was I Want a Mini Tiger written by Joyce Dunbar and published by Macmillan Books. She also had other projects in the pipeline, notably a book with Orchard Books, for which she had done initial drawings.
Personal life
Whilst at College she met fellow artist Shaun Clarke who she married in 2003, they had two children.Lara did not support cruelty to living things, and from the early age of five was a vegetarian.
Her early death was the result of malignant melanoma
Melanoma
Melanoma is a malignant tumor of melanocytes. Melanocytes are cells that produce the dark pigment, melanin, which is responsible for the color of skin. They predominantly occur in skin, but are also found in other parts of the body, including the bowel and the eye...
.