Dame Julia Donaldson is the renowned author of many much-loved children’s books known for their lyrical rhyming storytelling, including The Gruffalo, Room On The Broom, Tabby McTat, Stick Man, Zog, The Snail and the Whale and What The Ladybird Heard. The long-awaited third book of the Gruffalo series, Gruffalo Granny, is to be published later this year.

As Julia says when asked why her stories are so often in rhyme, the answer is because she has been writing songs for a very long time.

Julia grew up in a musical home and long before writing books she was creating and performing songs and musicals. Busking around Europe and singing in folk clubs were followed by many years of writing songs for children’s television. One of those songs, A Squash and a Squeeze, was then made into a book with illustrations by Axel Scheffler, who became Julia’s long-term collaborator.

Many further songs have been written to accompany her books. The songs have often been performed by Julia and her late husband Malcolm in schools, theatres, and at festivals, and have been released on the albums Julia Donaldson Sings the Gruffalo and Other Picture Book Favourites and Julia Donaldson Sings Favourite Fables and Action Rhymes, with more releases to follow.

Numerous books of Julia’s songs have been published, including A Treasury of Songs, A Pocketful of Songs and A Hatful of Songs.

In addition to the children’s material, Julia’s catalogue includes many sharp, witty songs for an older audience - Songs for Grown Ups - about subjects ranging from a tattooist to a truffle-hunting pig. These have been recorded with Malcolm and other musicians for the albums First Fourteen and Second Fourteen.

Julia was Children’s Laureate 2011-2013.