Abie Longstaff
Australian children's book author
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Abie Longstaff is an Australian-born British[1] author of children's fiction known for The Fairytale Hairdresser picture book series,[2][3] illustrated by Lauren Beard, as well as books for older children and educational books for schools.
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Abie Longstaff | |
|---|---|
Longstaff being introduced at the Hay Festival in 2017 | |
| Born | Australia |
| Occupation | Author |
| Writing career | |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's fiction |
| Notable work | The Fairytale Hairdresser |
| Website | www |
Early life and career
Writing career
Longstaff appears in the British Library’s current list of the "Top 500 Most Borrowed Authors" at number 192.[5]
Along with illustrator Lauren Beard, she is the winner of the Never Too Young Award[6] for the best book for children under four for The Mummy Shop.
Longstaff was a judge for the Amnesty (Carnegie) CILIP 2018 Commendation which was eventually won by Angie Thomas's The Hate U Give.[7] In 2019 she was elected to the Management Committee of the Society of Authors[8]
Television
The Nickelodeon children's television series Sunny Day, produced by Silvergate Media,[9] is based on Longstaff's The Fairytale Hairdresser books.[10][11]
Critical reception
Longstaff's fiction incorporates the genre and associated tropes of fairy tales and magic,[12] frequently offset with modern settings and humour.[13]
Her Fairytale Hairdresser books have been described as giving ‘a new spin on a traditional fairy tale’.[14] The Guardian called them considerably more nuanced and subversive than they appear on the surface[15] and they are known for their positive representation of diversity and multiculturalism.[16]
Longstaff's books for older children make use of historical references,[17] and complex literary elements such as footnotes and non-fiction material, alongside characters who are ‘brave and smart and inspirational’.[18]
Books
Picture books
- Pirate House Swap, illustrated by Mark Chambers: Random House (2011)
- The Mummy Shop, illustrated by Lauren Beard: Scholastic (2013)
- Just the Job for Dad, illustrated by Lauren Beard: Scholastic (2014)
- We’re having a Super Baby! illustrated by Jane Massey: Scholastic (2015)
- Superhero Hotel, illustrated by Migy Blanco: Scholastic (2017)
The Fairytale Hairdresser series
- The Fairytale Hairdresser and Rapunzel, illustrated by Lauren Beard: Random House (2011)
- The Fairytale Hairdresser and Cinderella, illustrated by Lauren Beard: Random House (2012)
- The Fairytale Hairdresser and Sleeping Beauty, illustrated by Lauren Beard: Random House (2013)
- The Fairytale Hairdresser and Snow White, illustrated by Lauren Beard: Random House (2014)
- The Fairytale Hairdresser and Father Christmas, illustrated by Lauren Beard: Random House (2014)
- The Fairytale Hairdresser and the Little Mermaid, illustrated by Lauren Beard: Random House (2015)
- The Fairytale Hairdresser and the Sugar Plum Fairy, illustrated by Lauren Beard: Random House (2015)
- The Fairytale Hairdresser and Beauty and the Beast, illustrated by Lauren Beard: Random House (2016)
- The Fairytale Hairdresser and the Princess and the Pea, illustrated by Lauren Beard: Random House (2016)
- The Fairytale Hairdresser and Aladdin, illustrated by Lauren Beard: Random House (2017)
- The Fairytale Hairdresser and the Princess and the Frog, illustrated by Lauren Beard: Random House (2018)
- The Fairytale Hairdresser and Thumbelina, illustrated by Lauren Beard.
- The Fairytale Hairdresser and Red Riding Hood, illustrated by Lauren Beard.
Chapter books
- The Magic Potions Shop: The Young Apprentice, illustrated by Lauren Beard: Random House (2015)
- The Magic Potions Shop: The River Horse, illustrated by Lauren Beard: Random House (2015)
- The Magic Potions Shop: The Blizzard Bear, illustrated by Lauren Beard: Random House (2016)
- The Magic Potions Shop: The Lightning Pup, illustrated by Lauren Beard: Random House (2016)
- The Magic Potions Shop: The Firebird, illustrated by Lauren Beard: Random House (2017)
- The Magic Potions Shop: The Emerald Dragon, illustrated by Lauren Beard: Random House (2017)
Fiction for older children
- The Trapdoor Mysteries: A Sticky Situation, illustrated by James Brown: Hachette (2016)
- The Trapdoor Mysteries: The Scent of Danger, illustrated by James Brown: Hachette (2018)
- How to Catch a Witch: Scholastic (2016)
- How to Bewitch a Wolf: Scholastic (2017)
Books for schools
- The Malice Family, illustrated by Sholto Walker: Pearson (2011)
- The Snow Queen, illustrated by Michael Foreman: HarperCollins (2013)
- Rumpelstiltskin, illustrated by Caroline Romanet: HarperCollins (2015)
- The Wizard of Oz, illustrated by Louise Pigott: HarperCollins (2015)
- We Want a Dog! Illustrated by Mar Ferrero: OUP (2017)
- Sometimes Mum is Silly, illustrated by Natalie Eldred: OUP (2017)
