Kaye Umansky
Encyclopedia
Kaye Umansky is an English children's author
and poet
. She has written over 130 books for children and her work ranges from picture books to novels. She is best known for the Pongwiffy Series.
As an only child, Kaye wrote stories and plays, which she tried to get her friends to act in.
After Kaye left school, she went to London
to train as a teacher. Kaye enjoyed teaching music, drama and creative writing, but not maths. Alongside her husband, Kaye formed a soul band and played in the evenings and at weekends, She says they "never became rich and famous, but we had a lot of fun".
She continued writing as a hobby and began writing full-time when her daughter was born.
She cites Richmal Crompton
and Terry Pratchett
as two of her biggest literary influences and her style has been compared to that of Roald Dahl and Eva Ibbotson.
In 2008, she was a judge for the inaugural Roald Dahl Funny Prize for humorous children's literature.
, the first Pongwiffy book, "Pongwiffy: A Witch of Dirty Habits", was published in 1987. They are now published by Bloomsbury Publishing and Pongwiffy's '21st Birthday' was recently celebrated with the release of the seventh title in the series, "Pongwiffy: Back on Track".
They have been published in various countries in Europe. They have published as audio books, read by Prunella Scales
, and as a cartoon TV series of 13 episodes which was first aired on ITV1
between June & September 2002. Pongwiffy was voiced by Dawn French and Pongwiffy's best friend, Sharkadder, was voiced by Jennifer Saunders
.
In 2010 a new Pongwiffy title appeared in a flip-book alongside a story by Phillip Ardagh as one of the official publications for World Book Day.
Book Award for Pongwiffy and the Spell of the Year; the 1999 Times Educational Supplement
Junior Music Book Award for Three Rapping Rats; the 2005 Spoken Word Award for the audio version of The Silver Spoon Of Solomon Snow , read by Rik Mayall
.
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:...
and poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
. She has written over 130 books for children and her work ranges from picture books to novels. She is best known for the Pongwiffy Series.
Early life
Kaye Umansky was born in Plymouth, Devon. Her mother was a music teacher and encouraged her to play from a young age and her dad was also a teacher who encouraged her reading.As an only child, Kaye wrote stories and plays, which she tried to get her friends to act in.
After Kaye left school, she went to 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...
to train as a teacher. Kaye enjoyed teaching music, drama and creative writing, but not maths. Alongside her husband, Kaye formed a soul band and played in the evenings and at weekends, She says they "never became rich and famous, but we had a lot of fun".
She continued writing as a hobby and began writing full-time when her daughter was born.
Personal life
She lives in North London with her husband Mo, an engineer, they have been together over 30 years. She has a daughter called Ella. She has an extended family of step children and step grandchildren.Career
Kaye got her first children's book published in 1986. The book was a collection of songs for children and was called Phantasmagoria. Kaye still writes music books, along with plays, poems, novels and picture books. But she is best known as the creator of PongwiffyShe cites Richmal Crompton
Richmal Crompton
Richmal Crompton Lamburn was a British writer, most famous for her Just William humorous short stories and books.-Life:...
and Terry Pratchett
Terry Pratchett
Sir Terence David John "Terry" Pratchett, OBE is an English novelist, known for his frequently comical work in the fantasy genre. He is best known for his popular and long-running Discworld series of comic fantasy novels...
as two of her biggest literary influences and her style has been compared to that of Roald Dahl and Eva Ibbotson.
In 2008, she was a judge for the inaugural Roald Dahl Funny Prize for humorous children's literature.
Pongwiffy
Originally published through Penguin BooksPenguin Books
Penguin Books is a publisher founded in 1935 by Sir Allen Lane and V.K. Krishna Menon. Penguin revolutionised publishing in the 1930s through its high quality, inexpensive paperbacks, sold through Woolworths and other high street stores for sixpence. Penguin's success demonstrated that large...
, the first Pongwiffy book, "Pongwiffy: A Witch of Dirty Habits", was published in 1987. They are now published by Bloomsbury Publishing and Pongwiffy's '21st Birthday' was recently celebrated with the release of the seventh title in the series, "Pongwiffy: Back on Track".
They have been published in various countries in Europe. They have published as audio books, read by Prunella Scales
Prunella Scales
Prunella Scales CBE is an English actress, known for her role as Basil Fawlty's long-suffering wife in the British comedy Fawlty Towers and her award-nominated role as Queen Elizabeth II in the British film A Question of Attribution.-Career:Throughout her long career, Scales has usually been cast...
, and as a cartoon TV series of 13 episodes which was first aired on ITV1
ITV1
ITV1 is a generic brand that is used by twelve franchises of the British ITV Network in the English regions, Wales, southern Scotland , the Isle of Man and the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey. The ITV1 brand was introduced by Carlton and Granada in 2001, alongside the regional identities of their...
between June & September 2002. Pongwiffy was voiced by Dawn French and Pongwiffy's best friend, Sharkadder, was voiced by Jennifer Saunders
Jennifer Saunders
Jennifer Jane Saunders is an English comedienne, screenwriter, singer and actress. She has won two BAFTAs, an International Emmy Award, a British Comedy Award, a Rose d'Or Light Entertainment Festival Award, two Writers' Guild of Great Britain Awards, and a Peoples Choice Award.She first came into...
.
In 2010 a new Pongwiffy title appeared in a flip-book alongside a story by Phillip Ardagh as one of the official publications for World Book Day.
Awards
The 1993 NottinghamshireNottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire is a county in the East Midlands of England, bordering South Yorkshire to the north-west, Lincolnshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south, and Derbyshire to the west...
Book Award for Pongwiffy and the Spell of the Year; the 1999 Times Educational Supplement
Times Educational Supplement
The Times Educational Supplement is a weekly UK publication aimed primarily at school teachers in the UK. It was first published in 1910 as a pull-out supplement in The Times newspaper. Such was its popularity that in 1914, the supplement became a separate publication selling for 1 penny.The TES...
Junior Music Book Award for Three Rapping Rats; the 2005 Spoken Word Award for the audio version of The Silver Spoon Of Solomon Snow , read by Rik Mayall
Rik Mayall
Richard Michael "Rik" Mayall is an English comedian, writer, and actor. He is known for his comedy partnership with Ade Edmondson, his over-the-top, energetic portrayal of characters, and as a pioneer of alternative comedy in the early 1980s...
.