Jill Murphy
Encyclopedia
Jill Murphy is a London
-born English
children's author
, best known for The Worst Witch
series and the Large Family picture books. She has been described as "one of the most engaging writers and illustrators for children in the land".
She started to write The Worst Witch while still at school, but put the book on hold while she attended Chelsea
and Croydon Art School
s. She continued to write it during a year living in a village in Togo, West Africa and later while working as a nanny back in the UK. The book was published when Jill was 24 and proved an instant success. Jill continued working as a nanny until the publication of The Worst Witch Strikes Again prompted her to devote herself to writing full-time.
She gave birth to her son Charlie in spring 1990.
In 1986, a television movie with the same title
as her fantasy novel premiered on HBO. It later aired on The Disney Channel
during the 1990s around the time of Halloween.
The Worst Witch stories have become some of the most successful titles on the Young Puffin paperback list and have sold more than 3 million copies. They were also made into a successful ITV
series, airing on CITV between 1998 and 2001.
She is also known for her picture books, in particular the popular Large Family picture books, which detail the domestic chaos of an elephant family. The "Large Family" is now a TV series on CBeebies
and ABC Kids. In 1996 The Last Noo-Noo was adapted as a play and performed at the Polka Theatre, London.
In 2007, Jill received an honorary fellowship from University College Falmouth
.
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...
-born English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
children's author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
, best known for The Worst Witch
The Worst Witch
The Worst Witch is a series of children's novels written and illustrated by Jill Murphy and published by Puffin Books. The first book was published in 1974. They have become some of the most outstandingly successful titles on the Young Puffin paperback list and have sold more than 4 million copies....
series and the Large Family picture books. She has been described as "one of the most engaging writers and illustrators for children in the land".
Biography
Murphy showed an interest in writing and drawing at the age of 6, and despite not excelling in other school subjects, had made her own enormous library of hand-written and illustrated books while still at primary school. She attended the Ursuline High School, Wimbledon which, together with the boarding school stories she enjoyed reading, provided much of the material and inspiration for Miss Cackle's Academy in The Worst Witch series. She grew up a Roman Catholic, but is no longer practising. Her stay-at-home mother was a "book maniac" and her father was an Irish engineer.She started to write The Worst Witch while still at school, but put the book on hold while she attended Chelsea
Chelsea, London
Chelsea is an area of West London, England, bounded to the south by the River Thames, where its frontage runs from Chelsea Bridge along the Chelsea Embankment, Cheyne Walk, Lots Road and Chelsea Harbour. Its eastern boundary was once defined by the River Westbourne, which is now in a pipe above...
and Croydon Art School
Art school
Art school is a general term for any educational institution with a primary focus on the visual arts, especially illustration, painting, photography, sculpture, and graphic design. The term applies to institutions with elementary, secondary, post-secondary or undergraduate, or graduate or...
s. She continued to write it during a year living in a village in Togo, West Africa and later while working as a nanny back in the UK. The book was published when Jill was 24 and proved an instant success. Jill continued working as a nanny until the publication of The Worst Witch Strikes Again prompted her to devote herself to writing full-time.
She gave birth to her son Charlie in spring 1990.
In 1986, a television movie with the same title
The Worst Witch (TV movie)
The Worst Witch premiered in 1986 on Central Independent Television and HBO. It is based on the children's book by Jill Murphy.-Plot:The film follows the plot of the 1974 book from the series, portraying the incidents of when Mildred turns herself invisible and transforms Ethel into a pig, Miss...
as her fantasy novel premiered on HBO. It later aired on The Disney Channel
Disney Channel
Disney Channel is an American basic cable and satellite television network, owned by the Disney-ABC Television Group division of The Walt Disney Company. It is under the direction of Disney-ABC Television Group President Anne Sweeney. The channel's headquarters is located on West Alameda Ave. in...
during the 1990s around the time of Halloween.
The Worst Witch stories have become some of the most successful titles on the Young Puffin paperback list and have sold more than 3 million copies. They were also made into a successful ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
series, airing on CITV between 1998 and 2001.
She is also known for her picture books, in particular the popular Large Family picture books, which detail the domestic chaos of an elephant family. The "Large Family" is now a TV series on CBeebies
CBeebies
CBeebies is the brand used by the BBC for programming aimed at children 6 years and under. It is used as a themed strand in the UK on terrestrial television, as a separate free-to-air domestic British channel and used for international varients supported by advertising, subscription or both...
and ABC Kids. In 1996 The Last Noo-Noo was adapted as a play and performed at the Polka Theatre, London.
In 2007, Jill received an honorary fellowship from University College Falmouth
University College Falmouth
University College Falmouth is a British university college in Falmouth, Cornwall. Founded in 1902, it had previously been the Falmouth School of Art and then Falmouth College of Arts until it received taught degree-awarding powers in March 2005...
.
Awards
| Year | Book | Award | Achievement |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Peace at Last | Kate Greenaway Medal Kate Greenaway Medal The 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... |
Commended |
| 1986 | Five Minutes' Peace | Children's Book Award | Shortlisted |
| 1987 | Five Minutes' Peace | Parents Magazine Best Books for Babies Award | Winner |
| 1987 | All In One Piece | Kate Greenaway Medal Kate Greenaway Medal The 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... |
Highly Commended |
| 1987 | All In One Piece | Children's Book Award | Shortlisted |
| 1994 | A Quiet Night In | Kate Greenaway Medal Kate Greenaway Medal The 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... |
Shortlisted |
| 1995 | The Last Noo-Noo | Smarties Book Prize (0-5 category) | Winner |
| 1995 | The Last Noo-Noo | English 4-11 Outstanding Children's Book of the Year | Shortlisted |
| 1996 | The Last Noo-Noo | Sheffield Children's Book Award | Winner |
| 1996 | The Last Noo-Noo | Gateshead Gold Award | Winner |