AUTHOR

Joyce Dunbar

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Joyce Dunbar is the author of about 90 books. The Guardian has named her 'one of the best writers for children today' with praise for her 'sensitivity, lyrical style and gentle humour'. She revels in the joy of language, the playfulness of words, and in seeing her work fabulously brought to life by world class illustrators, including 3 books illustrated by her daughter, Polly Dunbar. Her best known title is TELL ME SOMETHING HAPPY BEFORE I GO TO SLEEP, published in 1998, translated into 22 languages and still in print. After the twin towers tragedy it was recommended as a way of helping children to feel safe again and in 2001 Joyce and the illustrator went on tour to America. Now, as much as ever, children need help feel to safe, even when they are not. Her first book JUGG was a story about a jug, published by Scolar Press in 1980. It was a fine initiation into the hazards of publishing. In the week of publiciation the book was cancelled and rather than see them pulped, she bought 100 copies and used them to insulate the attic. Her second book, MUNDO & THE WEATHER CHILD is about the imaginary companion as a deaf child and was runner up for the guardian award in 1980. MOONBIRD is a story about a deaf prince and has been performed in Singapore and 5 other countries around the world, Many of her other stories have been dramatised for the stage and as puppet shows, with LONGNOSE PUPPETS & NORWICH PUPPET THEATRE. She is the author of a series of stories called MOUSE & MOLE, which one reviewer described as 'among the greats of English Literature.' These short, witty stories, have been animated for TV with Alan Bennett and Richard Briers playing the parts. For a Christmas Special, aired on BBC1 from 2014, Imelda Staunton joined the cast as Shrew. The project stalled for a long time, then GRAFFEG , an independent Welsh publisher, issued sparkling new versions , continuing the classic illustrations by James Mayhew. As well as the original 4 volumes, there are now 4 more, with planned total of 12, each with 3 stories. Book 8 CLINK CLANK CLUNK was published in Oct 2022. One reader said, ‘reading Mouse & Mole makes me feel that nothing terrible can ever happen.’ The books are published in several countries including Russia, China & and soon to be - Ukraine. So behind warring forces, a bit of sweetness and light. She was a creative writing tutor on the Greek island of Skyros for 10 years, and is also a tutor for The Arvon Foundation. From 2006-2009 She was a Royal Literary Fund Writing Fellow at UEA. . She lives in the Medieval City of Norwich, home to Julian of Norwich , an anchoress who the first woman to write a book in English REVELATIONS OF DIVINE LOVE. In 2012 Norwich became Unesco City of literature. In 2001 she was millennial writer in residence on Norwich open air market, which is oldest in the country. She occasionally visits schools and does some mentoring. She has cycled across Cuba and travelled across India with a guru for the founding a new ashram. She has two children, Ben , a photographer, andPolly, children's writer and illustrator.