Celebrating the world of children’s
book illustrator Helen Oxenbury

Illustration of Farmer Duck hoeing a field in Helen Oxenbury’s picture book Farmer Duck.

There once was a duck who had the bad luck to live with a lazy old farmer…

Helen oxenbury farmer duck exhausted

From the archive

There once was a duck who had the bad luck to live with a lazy old farmer…

Dr Lucy Stone singles out a special book from the Helen Oxenbury archive, for closer examination. She finds Farmer Duck a significant work with shades of Orwell but with plenty to inspire optimism in the younger reader.

Farmer Duck was written by Martin Waddell and illustrated by Helen Oxenbury. It was published by Walker Books in 1991.

It won the Smarties Book Prize and the British Book Award’s Illustrated Children’s Book of the Year. It was Highly Commended for the Kate Greenaway Medal and shortlisted for The Kurt Maschler Award.

NEW BOOK

‘Oh Dear Look What I Got’

Ohdearlookwhatwegot no type

A new rhyming picture book that begs to be read aloud:
written by Michael Rosen and illustrated by Helen Oxenbury. This is their first collaboration since We’re Going on a Bear Hunt in 1989.

A FAVOURITE FROM THE ARCHIVE

Author and illustrator James Mayhew selects his favourite Helen Oxenbury book.

The wolf dressed as Grandma invites Little Red Riding Hood into bed in an illustration from Red Riding Hood.

Interview at The Harley Gallery

The Sunday Times children’s books expert, Nicolette Jones interviews Helen at the Harley Gallery on World Illustration Day.