Lobel, Gillian

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Lobel, Gillian

Personal

Born in Coventry, England; married; children: two daughters. Education: University of Manchester, degree (English); University of Leicester, postgraduate certificate (education). Hobbies and other interests: Arts and crafts, gardening, walking.

Addresses

Home and office—Leicester, England.

Career

Author and private tutor. Formerly worked as an English teacher at comprehensive schools.

Awards, Honors

Children's Book Award shortlist, Federation of Children's Book Groups, 2001, for Ellie and the Butterfly Kitten; Bisto Book of the Year Award shortlist, Children's Book Ireland, 2006, for Fancy That!

Writings

Starlight, illustrated by Nic Wickens, Tamarind (Camberley, England), 1999.

Ellie and the Butterfly Kitten, illustrated by Karin Littlewood, Orchard (London, England), 2000.

Does Anybody Love Me?, illustrated by Rosalind Beardshaw, Good Books (Intercourse, PA), 2002.

Midnight Tiger, Oxford University Press (Oxford, England), 2003.

More Precious than Gold, Hodder Children's (London, England), 2003.

Little Bear's Special Wish, illustrated by Gaby Hansen, Tiger Tales (Wilton, CT), 2004.

Hazel, Not a Nut, Orchard (London, England), 2004.

Best Daddy in All the World, illustrated by Vanessa Cabban, Orchard (London, England), 2005.

Fancy That!, illustrated by Adrienne Geoghegan, Frances Lincoln Children's Books (London, England), 2005.

Little Honey Bear and the Smiley Moon, illustrated by Tim Warnes, Good Books (Intercourse, PA), 2006.

Too Small for Honey Cakes, illustrated by Sebastien Braun, Harcourt (Orlando, FL), 2006.

Forever Family, Orchard (London, England), 2007.

Sidelights

English children's book author Gillian Lobel made her U.S. debut in 2002 with Does Anybody Love Me? Lobel's story is told from the perspective of a little girl named Charlie who has a creative, yet messy, imagination. The story begins when Charlie is reprimanded by her parents for bringing a pile of dirt into the kitchen in order to create a tidal wave for her toy boats. Things get even messier when Charlie simulates a thunderstorm for her boats in the bathroom sink. When the sink floods over onto the floor, Charlie receives still more scolding from her parents. Feeling as though no one appreciates her, Charlie decides to run away into the "the jungle," a place in her backyard where she can escape her parents' anger. Charlie's grandpa ultimately finds a way to bring the girl out of the jungle and back into the house, where she is lovingly welcomed by her parents. A Kirkus Reviews critic acknowledged Does Anybody Love Me? as a "tale that poignantly depicts the conflict between a child's languorous fantasy world and her parents' harried reality."

Too Small for Honey Cakes is also written from the perspective of a young child and focuses on the jealousy Little Fox experiences when his new sibling arrives at the fox family's den. Little Fox is disappointed by the arrival of the new family member. Although the tiny one is too little to play games, it captures all the attention of Little Fox's father, Daddy Fox. Tired of being ignored, Little Fox hides in the cupboard underneath the stairs where he sings songs that expresses his jealousy. Lulled out of the cupboard by the smell of the honey cakes Daddy Fox bakes, Little Fox eventually comes to terms with his tiny new sibling.

Biographical and Critical Sources

PERIODICALS

Booklist, September 1, 2006, Connie Fletcher, review of Too Small for Honey Cakes, p. 138.

Kirkus Reviews, September 15, 2002, review of Does Anybody Love Me?, p. 1394; review of Little Honey Bear and the Smiley Moon, p. 960; August 15, 2006, review of Too Small for Honey Cakes, p. 847.

Publishers Weekly, October 7, 2002, review of Does Anybody Love Me?, p. 72.

School Library Journal, February, 2003, Jody McCoy, review of Does Anybody Love Me?, p. 115; November, 2006, Andrea Tarr, review of Little Honey Bear and the Smiley Moon, p. 99.