Mick Inkpen (1952-) Biography

Born 1952, in Romford, England; children: Simon, Chloe.

Addresses

Office—c/o Author Mail, Hodder and Stoughton Ltd., 338 Euston Rd., London NW13BH, England.

Career

Graphic designer, 1970-86. Greeting card designer; TV AM, England, writer for series "Rub-a-Dub-Tub"; freelance writer and illustrator of children's books, 1986—.

Honors Awards

Acorn Award, Nottinghamshire Libraries (England), and Children's Book Award, Federation of Children's Book Groups (England), both 1991, both for Threadbear; Acorn Award, Nottinghamshire Libraries, 1992, for Kipper; Best Illustrated Children's Book of the Year, British Book Awards, runner-up, 1992, for Penguin Small, and award, for Lullabyhullaballoo!; award for best animated children's film, British Academy of Film and Television Arts, 1998, for Kipper; Smarties Prize Silver Medal, 2001, for Kipper's A to Z.

Writings

ILLUSTRATOR, WITH NICK BUTTERWORTH

Elizabeth Lawrence and Noreen Wetton, Can You Do This?, Nelson (Nashville, TN), 1986.

Elizabeth Lawrence and Noreen Wetton, Come up and Play, Nelson (Nashville, TN), 1986.

Elizabeth Lawrence and Noreen Wetton, Do You Like My Hat?, Nelson (Nashville, TN), 1986.

Elizabeth Lawrence and Noreen Wetton, Do You Like My House?, Nelson (Nashville, TN), 1986.

Elizabeth Lawrence and Noreen Wetton, I Am Going to Hide, Nelson (Nashville, TN), 1986.

Elizabeth Lawrence and Noreen Wetton, It Is Too Big, Nelson (Nashville, TN), 1986.

Elizabeth Lawrence and Noreen Wetton, Look What I Can Do, Nelson (Nashville, TN), 1986.

Elizabeth Lawrence and Noreen Wetton, May I Come In?, Nelson (Nashville, TN), 1986.

Elizabeth Lawrence and Noreen Wetton, May I Play with You?, Nelson (Nashville, TN), 1986.

Elizabeth Lawrence and Noreen Wetton, Where Is Monster?, Nelson (Nashville, TN), 1986.

Elizabeth Lawrence and Noreen Wetton, Where Is the Mouse?, Nelson (Nashville, TN), 1986.

Elizabeth Lawrence and Noreen Wetton, Mrs. Rabbit Gets Locked Out, Nelson (Nashville, TN), 1987.

Elizabeth Lawrence and Noreen Wetton, Lolli and Pop in Trouble, Nelson (Nashville, TN), 1987.

Malcolm and Meryl Doney, Who Made Me?, Marshall Pickering (London, England), 1987, Zondervan (Grand Rapids, MI), 1992.

WITH NICK BUTTERWORTH; SELF-ILLUSTRATED

The Nativity Play, Little, Brown (Boston, MA), 1985.

The House on the Rock, Multnomah Press (Portland, OR), 1986.

The Precious Pearl, Multnomah Press (Portland, OR), 1986.

The Lost Sheep, Multnomah Press (Portland, OR), 1986.

The Two Sons, Multnomah Press (Portland, OR), 1986.

Nice and Nasty: A Book of Opposites, Hodder and Stoughton (London, England), 1987, published as Nice or Nasty: A Book of Opposites, Little, Brown (Boston, MA), 1987.

I Wonder at the Zoo, Zondervan (Grand Rapids, MI), 1987.

I Wonder in the Garden, Zondervan (Grand Rapids, MI), 1987.

I Wonder in the Country, Marshall Pickering (London, England), 1987, Chariot Victor Books (Colorado Springs, CO), 1994.

I Wonder at the Farm, Marshall Pickering (London, England), 1987, published as I Wonder on the Farm, Chariot Victor Books (Colorado Springs, CO), 1994.

Who Made … In the Country, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 1987.

Who Made … On the Farm, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 1987.

Who Made … At the Zoo, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 1987.

Who Made … In the Garden, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 1987.

Sports Day, Hodder and Stoughton (London, England), 1988.

The Magpie's Story: Jesus and Bacchaeus, Marshall Pickering (London, England), 1988.

The Mouse's Story: Jesus and the Storm, Marshall Pickering (London, England), 1988.

The Cat's Story: Jesus at the Wedding, Marshall Pickering (London, England), 1988.

The Fox's Story: Jesus Is Born, Marshall Pickering (London, England), 1988.

The Good Stranger, Marshall Pickering (London, England), 1989.

Just like Jasper!, Little, Brown (Boston, MA), 1989.

The Little Gate, Marshall Pickering (London, England), 1989, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 1992.

The Rich Farmer, Marshall Pickering (London, England), 1989, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 1992.

Ten Silver Coins, Marshall Pickering (London, England), 1989.

The School Trip, Delacorte (New York, NY), 1990.

Wonderful Earth!, Hunt and Thorpe (Alresford, England), 1990.

Field Day, Delacorte (New York, NY), 1991.

Jasper's Beanstalk, Hodder and Stoughton (London, England), 1992, Bradbury Press (New York, NY), 1993.

Opposites, Hodder and Stoughton (London, England), 1997.

Stories Jesus Told (includes The House on the Rock and The Precious Pearl), Zonderkidz (Grand Rapids, MI), 2002.

Animal Tales, Zonderkidz (Grand Rapids, MI), 2002.

SELF-ILLUSTRATED

One Bear at Bedtime: A Counting Book, Little, Brown (Boston, MA), 1987.

If I Had a Pig, Little, Brown (Boston, MA), 1988.

If I Had a Sheep, Little, Brown (Boston, MA), 1988.

Jojo's Revenge, Walker (London, England), 1989.

The Blue Balloon, Hodder and Stoughton (London, England), 1989, Little, Brown (Boston, MA), 1990.

Gumboot's Chocolatey Day, Macmillan (London, England), 1989, Doubleday (New York, NY), 1991.

Threadbear, Hodder and Stoughton (London, England), 1990, Little, Brown (Boston, MA), 1991.

Billy's Beetle, Hodder and Stoughton (London, England), 1991, Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 1992.

Penguin Small, Hodder and Stoughton (London, England), 1992, Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 1993.

Anything Cuddly Will Do!, Orchard Books (London, England), 1993.

Crocodile!, Orchard Books (London, England), 1993.

The Very Good Dinosaur, Orchard Books (London, England), 1993.

This Troll, That Troll, Orchard Books (London, England), 1993.

Lullabyhullaballoo!, Hodder and Stoughton (London, England), 1993, Artists and Writers Guild Books (New York, NY), 1994.

Nothing, Hodder and Stoughton (London, England), 1995, Artists and Writers Guild Books (New York, NY), 1996.

Don't Do That, Hodder and Stoughton (London, England), 1996, Intervisual Books (New York, NY), 1997.

Bear, Hodder and Stoughton (London, England), 1997.

Little Spotty Thing, Intervisual Books (New York, NY), 1997.

Say "Aaah"!, Intervisual Books (New York, NY), 1997.

Silly Billies, Intervisual Books (New York, NY), 1997.

Arnold, Hodder and Stoughton (London, England), 1998.

Honk!, Hodder and Stoughton (London, England), 1998.

Sandcastle, Hodder and Stoughton (London, England), 1998.

Splosh!, Hodder and Stoughton (London, England), 1998.

The Great Pet Sale, Orchard Books (New York, NY), 1999.

Hissss!, Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 1999.

In Wibbly's Garden, Viking (New York, NY), 2000.

Meow!, Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 2000.

Rocket, Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 2001.

Skates, Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 2001.

Inkpen Treasury, Hodder and Stoughton (London, England), 2003.

Blue Nose Island: Ploo and the Terrible Gnobbler, Hodder and Stoughton (London, England), 2003.

Blue Nose Island: Beachmoles and Bellvine, Hodder and Stoughton (London, England), 2004.

"KIPPER" SERIES

Kipper, Hodder and Stoughton (London, England), 1991, Little, Brown (Boston, MA), 1992.

Kipper's Toybox, Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 1992.

Kipper's Birthday, Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 1993.

Kipper's Book of Colours, Hodder and Stoughton (London, England), 1994, published as Kipper's Book of Colors, Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 1995.

Kipper's Book of Counting, Hodder and Stoughton (London, England), 1994, published as Kipper's Book of Numbers, Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 1995.

Kipper's Book of Opposites, Hodder and Stoughton (London, England), 1994, Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 1995.

Kipper's Book of Weather, Hodder and Stoughton (London, England), 1994, Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 1995.

Where, Oh Where, Is Kipper's Bear?: A Pop-up Book with Light!, Hodder and Stoughton (London, England), 1994, Harcourt Books (San Diego, CA), 1995.

Kipper's Snowy Day, Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 1996.

Kipper's Christmas Eve, Hodder Children's Books (London, England), 1999, Harcourt Books (San Diego, CA), 2000.

Kipper's A to Z: An Alphabet Adventure, Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 2000.

Kipper and Roly, Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 2001.

Kipper and the Egg, Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 2001.

Kipper's Rainy Day, Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 2001.

Kipper's Sunny Day, Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 2001.

Kipper's Sticky Paws, Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 2001.

Kipper's Basket, Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 2002.

Kipper's Kite, Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 2002.

Kipper's Lost Ball, Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 2002.

Kipper's Monster, Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 2002.

Kipper's Tree House, Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 2002.

Kipper's Surprise, Hodder and Stoughton (London, England), 2002.

Kipper's Balloon, Hodder and Stoughton (London, England), 2002.

Kipper's Beach Ball, Hodder and Stoughton (London, England), 2003.

"LITTLE KIPPER" SERIES

Arnold, Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 1998.

Honk!, Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 1998.

Sandcastle, Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 1998.

Splosh!, Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 1998.

Butterfly, Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 1999.

Swing!, Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 2000.

Picnic, Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 2001.

Thing!, illustrated by Stuart Trotter, Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 2001.

"WIBBLY PIG" SERIES

Wibbly Pig Is Happy!, Hodder and Stoughton (London, England), 1995, Viking (New York, NY), 2000.

Wibbly Pig Is Upset, Golden Books (New York, NY), 1995.

Wibbly Pig Can Dance!, Golden Books (New York, NY), 1995.

Wibbly Pig Can Make a Tent, Golden Books (New York, NY), 1995.

Wibbly Pig Likes Bananas, Golden Books (New York, NY), 1995.

Wibbly Pig Makes Pictures, Golden Books (New York, NY), 1995.

Wibbly Pig Opens His Presents, Golden Books (New York, NY), 1995.

Everyone Hide from Wibbly Pig, Viking (New York, NY), 1997.

In Wibbly's Garden, Viking (New York, NY), 2000.

Is It Bedtime Wibbly Pig?, Hodder and Stoughton (London, England), 2004.

Adaptations

Kipper was adapted as a television series by ITV, 1997, and broadcast in the United States on Nickelodeon. Many of Inkpen's stories about Kipper are also available on videocassette, including Kipper, Lyrick Studios, 1998, and Kipper's Snowy Day, Hallmark Home Entertainment, 1997.

Sidelights

Mick Inkpen is a British graphic artist-turned children's book writer and illustrator who is best known for such award-winning titles as Kipper, Threadbear, and Penguin Small. His picture book characters include charming pigs, raucous mice, sleepy bears, and of course the playful puppy called Kipper. "I entered the world of children's books relatively late," Inkpen once told Something about the Author (SATA), "after twelve years in graphic design." Quickly making up for lost time, he created several children's books with his long-time graphics partner, Nick Butterworth. Beginning publishing projects of his own in 1987, Inkpen has developed a distinctive writing and illustrating style marked by his unique humor and expressive characters.

Born in Romford, England, in 1952, Inkpen grew up in a "very suburban estate with white concrete roads all named after Scottish rivers," as the writer-illustrator told Stephanie Nettell in Books for Keeps. As Nettell noted, "English and Art marched side by side in Mick's affections" during his early schooling, but a job taken during his late teens preempted his decision to study English at Cambridge University. Friend Nick Butter-worth had set up a graphic design studio, and offered Inkpen a temporary job. "After twelve months the temporary job became permanent," Inkpen told SATA. "It was an excellent grounding—a kind of informal apprenticeship where I learned as much about dealing with stroppy printers and difficult clients as about the finer points of typography." Inkpen told Nettell that those years at the design studio were "marvelous for learning all the stuff that usually takes so long: Nick was an extremely good teacher—I'd choose that informal teaching over a college course every time—and I think I'm a good learner."

Initially, times were tough while the firm built a client base, and the partners were anything but good businessmen. Soon, however, things began to pick up. At age twenty-one, the now-married Inkpen found himself illustrating everything from bra packages to banking cartoons. Soon he and Butterworth turned their attention to children's books, creating a series based on a Sunday Express cartoon strip about a gang of mice that live in a deserted railway station called Upney Junction. There was also a brief excursion into television, with Inkpen writing "thirty or so stories about a pink haired punk character called Steve which Nick [Butterworth] narrated and illustrated live on camera," as he recalled to SATA. In addition to the Upney Junction mice books, Inkpen created a number of popular children's titles with Butterworth, including Just like Jasper, Jasper's Beanstalk, and Nice and Nasty. By 1986, however, he was ready to have a go at writing and illustrating his own books.

One of Inkpen's early titles, One Bear at Bedtime, is a counting book in which, according to Booklist's Barbara Elleman, "a young boy's imagination takes flight as he readies for bed." A pair of "what-if" books followed: If I Had a Pig and If I Had a Sheep, in which a boy and girl imagine they have been sent a pig and a sheep respectively and then wonder about all the things they would do with their new friend. Patricia Pearl, writing in School Library Journal, noted that the water-color illustrations of "round-faced, dot-eyed, pink-cheeked children" are enhanced by "warm color tones and a gentle sense of humor," and concluded that these two books "are sure to have appeal to young children." Moira Small wrote in Books for Keeps that the pair of books by Inkpen are "truly delightful."

In The Blue Balloon, Inkpen indulges his love of balloons as "wonderful graphic objects with an endless list of properties," according to Nettell, by telling the story of a dog who brings home a soggy blue balloon. In this fold-out book, the balloon turns out to have wonderful form-changing powers that delight the dog's young owner. "Both boy and dog have wonderfully expressive faces as they react to the balloon's extraordinary feats," noted a critic in a Publishers Weekly review. A congenial pig is the star of Gumboot's Chocolatey Day, wherein the porker in question gets the last centimeter of delight from a chocolate bar his aunt has given him. A Publishers Weekly reviewer concluded that "Inkpen's droll illustrations do not disappoint," while a Kirkus Reviews critic found both story and illustrations effective: "Like his sympathetically humorous, deftly phrased text, Inkpen's watercolor illustrations are guilelessly engaging."

Inkpen's award-winning Threadbear refers to the patched-up old teddy-bear protagonist of the story. Threadbear decides to find Santa Claus in hopes of getting the squeaker in his stomach repaired. Even though young Ben loves his stuffed toy, squeaker or no, the bear sets off on a journey to the North Pole. A Publishers Weekly contributor called the picture book "a real charmer throughout," while in a Junior Bookshelf review, Marcus Crouch noted that Inkpen "has given his tubby hero a pleasing image supported by some suitably chilly night colours."

Another award-winning title from Inkpen is Penguin Small, the story of a little penguin who, with the help of a snowman and a whale, makes a miraculous journey to join his friends at the South Pole. In Inkpen's version, penguins actually hailed from the North Pole, but, tired of being eaten by polar bears, they swam south. All but Penguin Small, who is afraid of water. In a Junior Bookshelf review, Marcus Crouch dubbed the book a "neat story … enriched with the author's deadpan pictures and helped a little by some bibliographical tricks—folding pages which open to a four-page whale or a panoramic tropical island." School Librarian contributor Sarah Reed maintained that "this is a book that will be enjoyed by children of all ages. It's worth every penny."

In Nothing, Inkpen explores the themes of loneliness and loss. Toby, an old stuffed cat, forgets his name and who he is because he has been separated from his owners for so many years. Thinking his name is Nothing, he is finally reunited with his family and restored to his old glory by Grandpa. "Inkpen's familiar, unadorned watercolors animate this simple and fetching story," noted a Publishers Weekly reviewer. Liz Waterland, writing in Books for Keeps, was also enthusiastic about the work, asserting "I don't think Mick Inkpen has written anything I like better than this lovely book," while a Kirkus Reviews critic concluded that readers "searching for deep meanings will find plenty to ponder, especially in the perfect balance between the profoundness of Nothing's mission and the humor of the text."

In Bear, Inkpen delivers an engaging tale about a bear that falls from the sky. "Surely Bear will become a modern classic," wrote Ricki Blackhall in Magpies. In a combined review of Inkpen's Splosh!, Honk!, Arnold, and Sandcastle, Margaret Phillips, writing in Magpies, noted that "The very clever thing about the books is their child-centered approach—total absorption in the task at hand, the simple illustrations enhancing the concentration by the way in which they focus on the key element of the story line." The Great Pet Sale focuses on a boy in a pet store and his guide, an irascible and talkative rat. A reviewer for Publishers Weekly called the tale "beguiling" and noted that "funny text, an amiable menagerie, sturdy pages and some inventive extras … make this paper-over-board volume almost as irresistible as its fast-talking protagonist."

Perhaps Inkpen's most popular creation to date has been the young dog, Kipper, in his many incarnations. The initial title, Kipper, recounts the story of a puppy who has grown tired of his old blanket and basket and decides to search among the animals outdoors for a new place to sleep. George Delalis, in School Library Journal, noted particularly Inkpen's "deceptively simple" watercolor illustrations, both "playful and humorous," and concluded that "children will adore" Inkpen's new character. Marcus Crouch, writing in Junior Bookshelf, observed that this "delightful picture-book … should find favour with play-groups and story-tellers," while School Librarian contributor Richard Brown dubbed Kipper "an engaging little character, … a type from which series are made."

Brown's comments were indeed prophetic; Inkpen has followed the original "Kipper" title with several sequels, and his playful pup has even inspired a television series. In Kipper's Toybox the little dog's life changes when he discovers why there is a hole in his toybox. Dumping out the toys, he counts one too many; putting them back in the box there are two too many noses. Inkpen uses the clever device of a pair of mice to develop a subtle counting book. A Kirkus Reviews critic called the puppy "charming" and concluded that Kipper's Toybox is "an elegantly simple, satisfying story with a lot of opportunities for counting." School Librarian contributor Elizabeth Hormann wrote that "Inkpen has created a gentle tale to delight pre-schoolers, tickle their funnybones and charm the adults who read it to them."

The fun continues in Kipper's Birthday, in which a delay in sending out invitations causes Kipper's friends to come to his birthday party on the wrong day. "Just right for small people intrigued by the concepts of 'yesterday' and 'tomorrow,'" concluded a Kirkus Reviews critic. In Kipper's Snowy Day the puppy spends the day enjoying the snow with his best friend, Tiger, leaving paw prints and shapes all over the garden. Fiona Waters in Books for Keeps wrote that in this book Inkpen "captures perfectly the real magic and excitement of snow for very young children." School Library Journal contributor Martha Topol declared Kipper's Snowy Day "fun, pleasurable, and pleasant" and "Perfect for group sharing." Kipper has also made an appearance in the pop-up book Where, Oh Where, Is Kipper's Bear?, as well as in concept books such as Kipper's Book of Numbers, Kipper's Book of Colors, and Kipper's Book of Weather.

Kipper's Sunny Day and its companion work, Kipper's Rainy Day, employ simple questions to guide young readers through the text; the readers lift flaps to uncover the answers. In Kipper's Sunny Day, the pup spends a day at the beach with Tiger, and in Kipper's Rainy Day he finds that his friends enjoy rain showers as much as he does. Reviewing Kipper's Sunny Day, a Kirkus Reviews critic noted that Inkpen's "cheery, uncluttered drawings are toddler-perfect," and School Library Journal contributor Karen Scott remarked that both titles are "great tools for creative thinking and stimulating the imagination."

Kipper and Tiger receive a bad scare in Kipper's Monster. Tiger is eager to try out his new flashlight, and he convinces Kipper to spend the night camping in the woods. As it grows dark, scary noises fill the air and the menacing shadow of a "monster" appears on the tent. Kipper discovers the shadow was actually caused by a tiny snail, but the two campers nonetheless head home to spend the rest of the night in comfort and safety. According to School Library Journal contributor Anne Knickerbocker, Inkpen's "bright, simple illustrations" give the work a "light, airy, uncomplicated quality." In Kipper and Roly, the sprightly pup decides on the perfect birthday present for his friend Pig: a new pet. After Kipper purchases Roly the hamster, however, he falls in love with Roly's antics and has trouble giving him away. Pig senses Kipper's discomfort and, in a show of friendship, asks Kipper to care for Roly. Kipper and Roly, provides "opportunities to discuss the qualities of good friends," observed Booklist reviewer Ellen Mandel.

Kipper's A to Z: An Alphabet Adventure garnered a Smarties Silver Medal in 2001. In the work, Kipper and his pal Arnold embark on an alphabet search, encountering a variety of creatures and objects along the way. According to a Publishers Weekly reviewer, Inkpen "introduces the letters in inventive ways, giving this volume a rollicking spontaneity and a story line." An overly enthusiastic zebra, for example, makes several appearances before his turn actually arrives, and Kipper and Arnold ask the reader for help with the letter "K." School Library Journal reviewer Judith Constantinides deemed Kipper's A to Z an "appealing concept book with childlike humor."

Another popular Inkpen series features Wibbly Pig, "a naked little pig with a round tummy who runs around with his big ears flopping," according to a Kirkus Reviews contributor. Wibbly appears in titles such as Wibbly Pig Can Make a Tent, Wibbly Pig Is Happy!, and Wibbly Pig Makes Pictures. In these simple stories, the gleeful pig explores single activities, painting or dancing or putting up a tent. "Each volume is short and sweet," noted a critic in Kirkus Reviews. In Wibbly's Garden is a retelling of the "Jack and the Beanstalk" tale featuring the cuddly pig. While searching for a missing toy, Wibbly discovers a magic bean which grows into an enormous beanstalk. After climbing to the top, Wibbly meets a gentle giant who has also lost something important: his magic hen. The giant and Wibbly join forces to locate their missing items. School Library Journal contributor Joyce Rice called the "Wibbly Pig" books "an entertaining series that's sure to hold the attention of the toddler set."

Inkpen explained his illustrating and writing techniques to Books for Keeps interviewer Nettell: "I find it fairly easy to visually create characters that people find sympathetically real," he said. Such characters tend to be more impressionistic than photographically precise, created by round lines and soft colors. Surprisingly for this draftsman-turned-children's writer, he also told Nettell that he enjoys writing more than illustrating his books, "because there's less craft between you and the idea. You put the words down and there's the reality on the page." Inkpen also mentioned the danger in children's literature of people mistaking simplicity for lack of substance. "It's not easy to be simple," he noted.