Mandy Stanley Biography

Born in Lowestoft, Suffolk, England. Education: Attended Great Yarmouth College of Art and Design; Nottingham Trent Polytechnic, B.A. (fashion design). Hobbies and other interests: Theatre, ballet, cooking.

Addresses

Agent—c/o Author Mail, Kingfisher Publications, New Penderel House, 283-288 High Holborn, London WC1V 7HP, England.

Career

Designer, illustrator, and writer.

Honors Awards

Received Mother and Baby magazine award.

Writings

FOR CHILDREN: SELF-ILLUSTRATED

Lettice, the Dancing Rabbit, HarperCollins (London, England), 2001, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (New York, NY), 2002.

Bloomer: The Dog You Can Play With!, Orchard Books (New York, NY), 2001.

What Do You Say?, HarperCollins (London, England), 2002, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (New York, NY), 2003.

Busy Bugs, Kingfisher (Boston, MA), 2003.

Lettice, the Flying Rabbit, HarperCollins (London, England), 2003, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (New York, NY), 2004.

A Christmas Wish, HarperCollins (London, England), 2004.

Who Tickled Tilly?, Chrysalis Children's (London, England), 2004.

The Bridesmaid, HarperCollins (London, England), 2005.

What Do You Do?, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (New York, NY), 2005.

ILLUSTRATOR

Anna Nilsen, I Can Count 1 to 10, Kingfisher (New York, NY), 1999.

Anna Nilsen, I Can Count 10 to 20, Kingfisher (New York, NY), 1999.

Anna Nilsen, I Can Subtract, Kingfisher (New York, NY), 2000.

Anna Nilsen, I Can Add, Kingfisher (New York, NY), 2000.

Jane Kemp, Tiny Trumpet, Collins (London, England), 2000.

First Word Book, Kingfisher (New York, NY), 2000.

Patti Barber, First Number Book, Kingfisher (New York, NY), 2001.

Vanessa Gill-Brown, Rufferella, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2001.

Anna Nilsen, I Can Multiply: Flip-Card Fun with Adding Groups and Multiplication, Kingfisher (London, England), 2001.

On the Farm, Kingfisher (New York, NY), 2002.

Ann Montague-Smith, First Shape Book, Kingfisher (New York, NY), 2002.

At the Zoo, Kingfisher (New York, NY), 2002.

At the Beach, Kingfisher (New York, NY), 2002.

Shopping, Kingfisher (New York, NY), 2003.

Playtime, Kingfisher (Boston, MA), 2003.

Out and About, Kingfister (Boston, MA), 2003.

First Colour Book, Kingfisher (London, England), 2003.

Marie Birkinshaw, Wipe Clean Read and Write: Read, Write, Wipe Clean, and Practice, Ladybird (London, England), 2003.

Also illustrator of "Babe" board-book series. Several books illustrated by Stanley have been translated into Spanish.

Sidelights

British author, illustrator, and designer Mandy Stanley originally trained for a career in the fashion industry designing baby wear before discovering her passion for writing and illustrating children's books. Moving into book illustration, Stanley has also created original stories such as What Do You Do? and Who Tickled Tilly?, which she pairs with her whimsical illustrations. Popular with readers in both England and the United States is Stanley's picture-book series featuring a curious young rabbit named Lettice. This series has grown to include the books Lettice, the Dancing Rabbit, The Bridesmaid, and A Christmas Wish, all of which feature the author/illustrator's gentle, pastel-toned art.

Readers meet Lettice in Lettice, the Dancing Rabbit as the young bunny becomes frustrated by life as a rabbit and decides to become a ballerina instead. Bravely leaving home, she hops into town and finds a ballet school where they agree to give her lessons. After borrowing ballerina attire from a doll, Lettice quickly turns into the star of her class because she can jump so high. However, despite her love of dancing and stardom, the bunny misses the simple joys of the carefree rabbit lifestyle, and longs to let down her ears; she must now choose between dancing and her home and family. "This British import is charming: text, pictures, and design," commented Ilene Cooper in a Booklist review of Lettice, the Dancing Rabbit. Dorian Chong stated in School Library Journal that Stanley's "simple and sweet" story pairs well with "clear and clean illustrations [that] are prettily appealing."

In Lettice, the Flying Rabbit the spunky bunny takes on yet another challenge: flying. Inspired by the birds around her, Lettice becomes determined to fly, and when she sees a small pink motorized toy plane, she climbs inside. When the owner of the plane, a little girl, returns and begins to play with the toy, away goes Lettice into the sky, making her dreams a surprise reality, although when she lands far from her rabbit hole another, more fearsome challenge awaits. Other adventures include A Christmas Wish, which finds the ambitious bunny wishing she could be a Christmas fairy, and The Bridesmaid, in which an invitation to be a member of a wedding party fulfills yet another of the youngster's dreams. Noting that Stanley's storyline in Lettice, the Flying Rabbit is "just right" for preschoolers, Booklist reviewer Cooper also praised the illustrations, which she described as "sweet and simple and executed in candy colors that immediately attract." Judith Constantinides commented in School Library Journal that Lettice is "a lovable heroine with an expressive face and lots of bounce." Lettice, the Flying Rabbit is "a good read-aloud for one child or many," the critic added, noting "the added attraction of an essential life lesson as well."