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Axel Scheffler
Biography
Axel Scheffler was born in 1957 in Hamburg, Germany. At school, although always good at art, he never really considered a career in illustration. But long before he began his professional life, he had won his first drawing prize for an international chocolate company – his prize was a cuddly lilac cow.
Axel went on from school to study History of Art at the University of Hamburg – but he didn’t like the course and decided to leave. Knowing that he wanted to live in another country and learn a second language, he moved to England to study illustration at the Bath Academy of Art.
After graduating with a first class degree, Axel moved to London where he began illustrating for a variety of English and German advertising companies, magazines and newspapers. He took his portfolio to a number of publishers and Faber commissioned him to illustrate The Piemakers by Helen Cresswell and The Bottle Rabbit by Bernard McCabe. In 1989, Walker asked Axel to illustrate a text by Jon Blake, You’re a Hero, Daley B.
A writer called Julia Donaldson was also writing songs for Playdays at this time and her song A Squash and a Squeeze was commissioned to be a picture book. Axel Scheffler was recommended as an illustrator for the text and an award-winning team was created.
Their next book, The Gruffalo, was published in March 1999 and has already become a modern classic, selling more than 2 million copies worldwide and translated into over 20 languages. Axel also continues to illustrate for other authors as well, including Ian Whybrow and David Henry Wilson.
Axel has achieved worldwide acclaim for his humorous illustrations, and his books have been translated into over 29 languages. He has enjoyed particular success in his award-winning picture book collaborations with Julia Donaldson, but is also the best-selling illustrator of novelty books such as The Bedtime Bear. In 2006 he was been called upon to design Gordon Brown’s annual Christmas card!
Still living in London, Axel makes frequent visits to continental Europe. His hobbies include walking, cooking and reading and beadwork.
Books by Axel Scheffler
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Zog and the Flying Doctors (Early Reader)
Award-winning
- eur prices
- Price: €6.20
- gbp prices
- Offer price: £4.65
- RRP: £4.99
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The Ugly Five (Board Book)
Award-winning
- eur prices
- Price: €8.60
- gbp prices
- Offer price: £6.45
- RRP: £6.99
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The Smeds and the Smoos
Award-winning
- eur prices
- Price: €14.70
- gbp prices
- Offer price: £11.05
- RRP: £12.99
Packs featuring Axel Scheffler
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3books
Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler Early Readers Pack x 3
Award-winning
- eur prices
- Price: €16.90
- gbp prices
- Offer price: £12.70
- RRP: £14.97
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2books
Axel Scheffler Favourites Pair
Award-winning
- eur prices
- Price: €13.55
- gbp prices
- Offer price: £10.20
- RRP: £11.98
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A Treasury of Songs: Book and CD x 6
Award-winning
- eur prices
- Price: €79.72
- gbp prices
- Price: £59.94
Series by Axel Scheffler
Read & Respond
Read & Respond provides you with everything you need to share the best-loved children’s books with your class.
Awards won by Axel Scheffler
Axel has won many of the major book prizes, including the Smarties and Bluue Peter Awards for The Gruffalo, the Blue Peter and Sheffield Children’s Book Prizes for Room on the Broom, the British Book Awards Children’s Book of the Year for The Gruffalo’s Child and the Red House Award for Super Worm.