Colin McNaughton
Encyclopedia
Colin McNaughton is a writer and illustrator of over 70 children's books. He is also a poet, focusing mainly on humorous children's poetry. He trained in graphic design
at the Central School of Art and Design in London
followed by an M.A. in illustration at the Royal College of Art
. He lives in London.
-upon-Tyne in Northumberland
, UK in 1951, the son of a shipyard worker and a school dinner lady
. As a child, there was little indication that he would become one of Britain's leading children's authors-illustrators. There were no books at all in his parents’ home, but there were always comics
, his formative literature, and their slapstick
humour has been a lasting influence.
His exuberant picture books with their comic-strip techniques, often take the form of an extended joke:
Colin McNaughton's books include the Preston Pig series: Suddenly!, Boo!, Clops!, Goal!, Hmm... and Shh (Don't Tell Mister Wolf!) all of which feature Preston Pig and his near-escapes from Mr Wolf. A TV series
was developed from these books.
His most notable book is perhaps There's an Awful Lot of Weirdos in Our Neighbourhood, a collection of poetry written in conjunction with Allan Ahlberg and which was published in 1989. Colin McNaughton has worked with Allan Ahlberg on a number of books, including three of the Happy Families
series, Mr and Mrs Hay the Horse,
Miss Brick the Builders' Baby and Mrs Jolly's Joke Shop.
Colin McNaughton worked with illustrator Satoshi Kitamura
to create Once Upon an Ordinary School Day, published in 2004.
Graphic design
Graphic design is a creative process – most often involving a client and a designer and usually completed in conjunction with producers of form – undertaken in order to convey a specific message to a targeted audience...
at the Central School of Art and Design in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
followed by an M.A. in illustration at the Royal College of Art
Royal College of Art
The Royal College of Art is an art school located in London, United Kingdom. It is the world’s only wholly postgraduate university of art and design, offering the degrees of Master of Arts , Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy...
. He lives in London.
Childhood
Colin was born in WallsendWallsend
Wallsend is an area in North Tyneside, Tyne and Wear, England. Wallsend derives its name as the location of the end of Hadrian's Wall. It has a population of 42,842.-Romans:...
-upon-Tyne in Northumberland
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
, UK in 1951, the son of a shipyard worker and a school dinner lady
Lunch Lady
Lunch lady is an American slang term for a woman who cooks and serves food in a school cafeteria; the equivalent British English term is "dinner lady". In Britain, a dinner lady also patrols the school playgrounds during the lunch breaks to maintain order amongst the children...
. As a child, there was little indication that he would become one of Britain's leading children's authors-illustrators. There were no books at all in his parents’ home, but there were always comics
Comics
Comics denotes a hybrid medium having verbal side of its vocabulary tightly tied to its visual side in order to convey narrative or information only, the latter in case of non-fiction comics, seeking synergy by using both visual and verbal side in...
, his formative literature, and their slapstick
Slapstick
Slapstick is a type of comedy involving exaggerated violence and activities which may exceed the boundaries of common sense.- Origins :The phrase comes from the batacchio or bataccio — called the 'slap stick' in English — a club-like object composed of two wooden slats used in Commedia dell'arte...
humour has been a lasting influence.
Books
Colin McNaughton's first book was published while he was still at the RCA.His exuberant picture books with their comic-strip techniques, often take the form of an extended joke:
Colin McNaughton's books include the Preston Pig series: Suddenly!, Boo!, Clops!, Goal!, Hmm... and Shh (Don't Tell Mister Wolf!) all of which feature Preston Pig and his near-escapes from Mr Wolf. A TV series
Preston Pig
Preston Pig is a children's cartoon show, that aired on CITV, based on a series of books by Colin McNaughton. It starred Nicky Croydon as Preston, and Hugh Laurie as Mr. Wolf....
was developed from these books.
His most notable book is perhaps There's an Awful Lot of Weirdos in Our Neighbourhood, a collection of poetry written in conjunction with Allan Ahlberg and which was published in 1989. Colin McNaughton has worked with Allan Ahlberg on a number of books, including three of the Happy Families
Happy Families (books)
Happy Families is a series of children's books written by Allan Ahlberg, inspired by the traditional card game Happy Families. Ahlberg worked with a number of illustrators and the books were published by Puffin Books. The series form a transition for children between picture books and chapter books...
series, Mr and Mrs Hay the Horse,
Miss Brick the Builders' Baby and Mrs Jolly's Joke Shop.
Colin McNaughton worked with illustrator Satoshi Kitamura
Satoshi Kitamura
is a renowned children's picture book author and illustrator, famous for quirky perspectives, brilliant watercolours, attention to detail and unique characters...
to create Once Upon an Ordinary School Day, published in 2004.
List (incomplete) of published books
- Dracula's Tomb ; Author: Colin McNaughton; Publisher: Candlewick
- Not Last Night But the Night Before; Author: Colin McNaughton; Illustrator: Emma Chichester Clark; Publisher: Walker Books Ltd
- Soccer Crazy ; Author: Colin McNaughton; Publisher: Mathew Price Ltd.
- We're Off to Look for Aliens; Author: Colin McNaughton; Illustrator: Colin McNaughton; Publisher: Candlewick
- Captain Abdul's Little Treasure ; Author: Colin McNaughton; Publisher: Walker Books Ltd
- If Dinosaurs Were Cats and Dogs; Author: Colin McNaughton; Publisher: Mathew Price Ltd
- Potty Poo-poo Wee-wee!; Author: Colin McNaughton; Publisher: Walker Books Ltd
- Once Upon an Ordinary School Day; Author: Colin McNaughton; Illustrator: Satoshi Kitamura; Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
- What Now, Cushie Butterfield; Author: Colin McNaughton; Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Limited
- Lemmy Was a Diver; Author: Colin McNaughton; Publisher: ANDERSEN (RAND)
- Jolly Roger And The Pirates Of Captain Abdul; Author: Colin McNaughton; Illustrator: Colin McNaughton; Publisher: Tandem Library
- She's a Little Cow; Author: Colin McNaughton; Publisher: Collins
- S.W.A.L.K. (Preston Pig); Author: Colin McNaughton; Publisher: Picture Lions
- Who's Been Sleeping in My Porridge?; Author: Colin McNaughton; Publisher: Candlewick
- Wish You Were Here (and I Wasn't); Author: Colin McNaughton; Illustrator: Colin McNaughton; Publisher: Candlewick Press (MA)
- I'm Talking Big!; Author: Colin McNaughton; Publisher: Walker Books Ltd
- Good News, Bad News; Author: Colin McNaughton; Illustrator: Colin McNaughton; Publisher: Collins
- Oomph!: A Preston Pig Story; Author: Colin McNaughton; Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books
- Don't Step on the Crack!; Author: Colin McNaughton; Illustrator: Colin McNaughton; Publisher: Dial Books
- Little Goal!: A Preston Pig Toddler Book; Author: Colin McNaughton; Publisher: Red Wagon Books
- Little Oops!: A Preston Pig Toddler Book; Author: Colin McNaughton; Publisher: Red Wagon Books
- Little Boo!: A Preston Pig Toddler Book; Author: Colin McNaughton; Publisher: Red Wagon Books
- Little Suddenly!: A Preston Pig Toddler Book; Author: Colin McNaughton; Publisher: Red Wagon Books
- Mr and Mrs Hay the Horse; Author: Allan Ahlberg; Illustrator: Colin McNaughton; Publisher: Puffin Books
- Miss Brick the Builders' Baby; Author: Allan Ahlberg; Illustrator: Colin McNaughton; Publisher: Puffin Books
- Mrs Jolly's Joke Shop; Author: Allan Ahlberg; Illustrator: Colin McNaughton; Publisher: Puffin Books
Awards
McNaughton's books have been shortlisted for a number of awards:- Jolly Roger
- shortlisted for 1988 Smarties Book PrizeNestlé Smarties Book PrizeThe Nestlé Children's Book Prize, also known as the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize, was an annual award given to children's books written in the previous year by a UK citizen or resident. The prize was administered by Booktrust, an independent charity which promotes books and reading, and sponsored by...
- shortlisted for W H Smith Illustration Award
- shortlisted for Emil/Kurt Maschler AwardKurt Maschler AwardThe Kurt Maschler Award was established in 1982 by Kurt Maschler, and was awarded annually until 1999 to honour "a work of imagination for children, in which text and illustration are integrated so that each enhances and balances the other."-History:...
- winner of 1989 British Book Design and Production Award
- Watch Out for the Giant-Killers!
- shortlisted for the 1991 Earthworm Award
- Have You Seen Who's Just Moved in Next Door to Us?
- winner of 1991 EMil/Kurt Maschler Award
- Who's That Banging on the Ceiling
- shortlisted for 1992 British Book Design and production Award
- Making Friends with Frankenstein
- winner of 1993 British Book Design and Production Award
- Suddenly!
- shorltisted for 1994 Smarties Book Prize
- Here Come the Aliens!
- shortlisted for 1996 Sheffield Children's Book Award
- shortlisted for 1996 Kate Greenaway MedalKate Greenaway MedalThe Kate Greenaway Medal was established in the United Kingdom in 1955 in honour of the children's illustrator, Kate Greenaway. The medal is given annually to an outstanding work of illustration in children's literature. It is awarded by Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals...
- Oops!
- category winner in 1996 Smarties Book Prize