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Raymond Briggs
Raymond Briggs went to Rutlish School in Surrey. He left when he
was 15 because he wanted to be a cartoonist. He had originally
wanted to be a journalist. He went to Wimbledon Art School College
where he discovered that fine art was 'good' and commercial art was
'bad'. He later went to the Slade School to train as a painter and
quickly realised that he was a much better illustrator.
Raymond started by illustrating other people's books
and stories, including a Mother Goose Treasury and a collection of
fairytales. He then began to do his own picture books.
Raymond likes making use of a strip cartoon style that
is fun for children and adults to read. His books are almost always
different from other people's: in Father Christmas, he made the old
man grumpy and 'ordinary'; in The Snowman he produced a picture
book without words that was very unusual at the time. He is also a
serious social commentator, as demonstrated in his anti-nuclear
book When the Wind Blows, and in his attack on the Falklands War in
The Iron Lady and the Tin Pot General.
The Bear
One night a very large bear climbs into Tilly's bedroom. He's friendly enough but he's a lot of work to look after and how can she keep him a secret? A wonderful fantasy of friendship. (8+)
Published by Red Fox
The Snowman
A classic wordless picture book that tells the story of a small boy's adventures one snowy night when the snowman he has made comes unexpectedly to life. Funny and touching. (8+)
Published in Puffin Books
UG
The story of a Stone Age boy who longs for some comfort in his life. Everyone laughs at Ug when he wants soft trousers made from mammoth skin, when he picks a bunch of flowers for his mother just to enjoy and not to eat, and when he suggests building a proper house and moving out of the cave. Is Ug just ahead of his time? A new look at life in the Stone Age. (9+)
Published by Jonathan Cape
Fungus the Bogeyman
The dark and dank world of Fungus, the most likeable of glum and grimy characters. Bogeydom - a repulsive but compulsive world - is fleshed out in great detail in the brilliantly integrated words and pictures of Raymond Briggs. (10+)
Published by Penguin Books
Jim and the Beanstalk
The giant that Jim finds is bald, toothless and half blind. No wonder he's bad-tempered and has lost his zest for life. Jim helps to fix him up with spectacles, false teeth and a smart new wig of flaming red hair. Now he's a happy giant - and a dangerously hungry one! (9+)
Published in Puffin Books
Father Christmas goes on Holiday
The zany holiday adventures of a disgruntled Father Christmas as he finds ways to fill in time between his seasonal jobs. Scotland's too wet, the food's too rich in France, and the high-life of Las Vegas is too expensive. Above all, everywhere he goes someone recognises this very special old man. (9+)
Published in Puffin Books
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[ Windows Media Clip 1- I'm best known for The Snowman ]
[ Windows Media Clip 2- Jim and the Beanstalk ]
[ Windows Media Clip 3- It started when I was evacuated ]
[ Windows Media Clip 4- I can do better myself ]
