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Shirley was born in West Kirby, near Liverpool, and studied fashion and dress design at Liverpool Art School, before continuing her studies at the Ruskin School of Drawing and Fine Art in Oxford. She then embarked on a career as a freelance illustrator in London, where she still lives today. She illustrated other writers' work, including Noel Streatfeild, Alison Uttley, Ian Seraillier, Margaret Mahy and notably Dorothy Edwards's My Naughty Little Sister series. hirley began to write and draw her own picture books when her children were young. Her first book - Lucy and Tom's Day - was published in 1960, and she followed it with, among others, Dogger and the Alfie series. hirley Hughes has won the Other Award, the Eleanor Farjeon Award, and the Kate Greenaway Medal for Illustration twice, for Dogger in 1977 and for Ella's Big Chance in 2003. In 2007 Dogger was voted the public's favourite Greenaway winner of all time. Shirley received an OBE in 1999 for services to Children's Literature.
Hughes is a much loved and respected children's author, famous for the quality and appeal of her stories and the beauty of her illustrations. This collection caters for children of all ages and can be enjoyed and shared by the whole family. Leaping through the pages are stories, rhymes, poems and even cartoons. There are old and new characters, the ever-popular Alfie and Naughty Little Sister share space with newly published material. The 'Nursery Years' and 'Young Children' sections contain lots of captivating pictures that small children will identify with and the stories and rhymes are interactive which will hold their attention. The language is simple and lively but manages to convey effectively some useful messages about manners and kindness, without preaching. 'Mudlarks' is a joy while 'Lucy and Tom at the Seaside' is a touchingly nostalgic snapshot that is so perfect, most readers will feel it could have been written just for them. The author delights in reliving the fun and thrill of youthful adventures in action-packed tales. There are evocative and sensuous poems to conjure up the world as seen through the eyes of a young child. The stories for 'Older Children' and for 'All to enjoy' are more sophisticated but lose none of the charm and appeal of the earlier sections. A book to keep and treasure, to share with children and grandchildren. An absolute classic. (Kirkus UK)
