Seven Stories - The Centre For Children's Books

Seven Stories is delighted to present an exhibition that will explore the life and celebrate the work of one of Britain's best known author–illustrators for children.

Judith Kerr’s first picture book, The Tiger Who Came to Tea began as a bedtime story for her own children and was published in 1968. It soon became a classic and by the time it celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2008, it had been translated into 11 languages and sold over five million copies. Alongside original artwork, notes and sketches children will enjoy stepping into Sophie’s kitchen to have tea with a life-size tiger.

Also featured is the loveable Mog series, beginning with Mog the Forgetful Cat in 1970, and drawing to a close with Goodbye Mog in 2002. Find out how Judith took inspiration from her family and real life cat; curl up and enjoy reading Judith’s books inside Mog’s cosy basket.

Explore Judith’s childhood and her experiences of having to escape Germany as Hitler came to power, how it felt to be a refugee in Switzerland, then France before finally settling in London in 1936. Judith writes about these experiences through three semi-autobiographical novels for older children in her Out of the Hitler Time trilogy, through the story of her alter ego Anna.

Karen Sample, teacher at Christ Church C of E Primary said: “The children have been really engaged in this project and were delighted to meet Judith Kerr. The nature of When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit has really inspired them and fuelled them to learn more. They have all been able to access the range of Judith’s stories, no matter what their reading level and it’s wonderful to see. The children asked some very thought-provoking questions and we all felt as though we were working with older children.”

Exhibition runs until May 2010.