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Lucy and Tom

Learn about words and letters in a Lucy and Tom story which takes us from apples right through to the zoo...

Shirley Hughes (Author, Illustrator) Shirley Hughes illustrated more than 200 children's books and is one of the best-loved writers for children, known for her beloved classics including the Alfie and Annie Rose stories, and Dogger. 
 
 
Shirley Hughes was born in West Kirby, near Liverpool, in 1927, and studied fashion and dress design at Liverpool Art School, before continuing her studies at the Ruskin School of Drawing and Fine Art in Oxford. She started her career as a freelance illustrator in London, illustrating other writers' work, including Noel Streatfeild, Alison Uttley, Ian Seraillier and notably Dorothy Edwards's My Naughty Little Sister series. 
 
 
Shirley began to write and draw her own picture books when her children were young. Her first book - Lucy and Tom's Day - was published in 1960, and she followed it with, among others, Dogger, and the Alfie series. Her books include the wordless picture book Up and Up, collection of rhymes and poems Out and About, and for the very young The Nursery Collection. 
 
She wrote two novels for older children, Hero on a Bicycle, about a 13-year-old Italian boy during the occupation of Florence, and Whistling in the Dark, set during the Liverpool Blitz. Her memoir, A Life Drawing, was published in 2002. 
 
She also collaborated with her daughter, Clara Vulliamy, on the Dixie O'Day series; which saw Shirley with an illustrator for the first time with Shirley writing the text and Clara creating the illustrations. 
 
In 2020 she returned to her much-loved character, Dogger, with a new story Dogger's Christmas. 
 
Shirley Hughes has won the Other Award, the Eleanor Farjeon Award, and the Kate Greenaway Medal for Illustration twice, for Dogger in 1977 and for Ella's Big Chance in 2003. In 2007 Dogger was voted the public's favourite Greenaway winner of all time. She was Highly Commended for the Greenaway Medal for The Lion and the Unicorn in 1998. Shirley received an OBE in 1999 for services to Children's Literature, and a CBE in 2017. She was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and was the first recipient of BookTrust's Lifetime Achievement Award. 
 
Shirley died in London in 2022.

Lucy and Tom know a lot of words: they have Books read to them at Bedtime. They know that D is for Dog, like the dogs that live on their street, F is for Friends, and P is for Park and for Playing. 
 
Join Lucy and Tom on a journey through their life, in this satisfying alphabet tale from master storyteller, Shirley Hughes.

Lucy & Tom: From A to Z

A classic Lucy and Tom tale from Shirley Hughes, creator of Dogger and Alfie.

One morning, very early ... one little girl called Lucy fast asleep in bed, with one very special teddy tucked in beside her. Lucy's little brother Tom is the first to wake up, and tugs at her quilt. Now there are two children, wide awake and ready for the day! 
 
A story with numbers, as Lucy and Tom go through their day, exploring their world, counting, sharing and learning as they go.

Lucy & Tom: From One to Ten

A reassuring tale about starting school by the award-winning Shirley Hughes.

Shirley Hughes illustrated more than 200 children's books and is one of the best-loved writers for children, known for her beloved classics including the Alfie and Annie Rose stories, and Dogger. 
 
 
Shirley Hughes was born in West Kirby, near Liverpool, in 1927, and studied fashion and dress design at Liverpool Art School, before continuing her studies at the Ruskin School of Drawing and Fine Art in Oxford. She started her career as a freelance illustrator in London, illustrating other writers' work, including Noel Streatfeild, Alison Uttley, Ian Seraillier and notably Dorothy Edwards's My Naughty Little Sister series. 
 
 
Shirley began to write and draw her own picture books when her children were young. Her first book - Lucy and Tom's Day - was published in 1960, and she followed it with, among others, Dogger, and the Alfie series. Her books include the wordless picture book Up and Up, collection of rhymes and poems Out and About, and for the very young The Nursery Collection. 
 
She wrote two novels for older children, Hero on a Bicycle, about a 13-year-old Italian boy during the occupation of Florence, and Whistling in the Dark, set during the Liverpool Blitz. Her memoir, A Life Drawing, was published in 2002. 
 
She also collaborated with her daughter, Clara Vulliamy, on the Dixie O'Day series; which saw Shirley with an illustrator for the first time with Shirley writing the text and Clara creating the illustrations. 
 
In 2020 she returned to her much-loved character, Dogger, with a new story Dogger's Christmas. 
 
Shirley Hughes has won the Other Award, the Eleanor Farjeon Award, and the Kate Greenaway Medal for Illustration twice, for Dogger in 1977 and for Ella's Big Chance in 2003. In 2007 Dogger was voted the public's favourite Greenaway winner of all time. She was Highly Commended for the Greenaway Medal for The Lion and the Unicorn in 1998. Shirley received an OBE in 1999 for services to Children's Literature, and a CBE in 2017. She was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and was the first recipient of BookTrust's Lifetime Achievement Award. 
 
Shirley died in London in 2022.

Lucy has her school things ready. She has a new grey skirt, a pair of brown shoes, a pencil case and a satchel. Tom wishes that he had a satchel too. 
 
Full of warmth and good humour, the happy simplicity of childhood is captured in this richly illustrated, classic picture book about two young children’s first experience of school.

Lucy and Tom at School

Lucy and Tom are celebrating 55 years in publication in 2015 with this gorgeous reissue of the classic Shirley Hughes Christmas book

It’s Christmas, and Lucy and Tom are getting ready! 
 
There are cards to make, a tree to decorate and presents to hide. 
And how can you get to sleep when Father Christmas may be coming? 
 
This classic picture book from the creator of Dogger is the perfect book for Christmas excitement.

Lucy and Tom at Christmas

Lucy and Tom are off for a very special day out at the seaside! But what should they do first? 
 
Join Lucy and Tom as they discover the seaside. From paddling to picnics, to sandcastles and ice cream - they discover everything the seaside has to offer. 
 
With gentle illustrations and easy-to-read text, Lucy and Tom at the Seaside is perfect for summer celebrations. Delighting children for generations, discover this soothing bedtime story. 
 
Loved Lucy and Tom at the Seaside? Discover: 
Dogger 
Lucy and Tom at School 
Alfie Gives a Hand 
The Lion and the Unicorn

Lucy and Tom are celebrating 55 years in publication in 2015 with this gorgeous reissue of the classic Shirley Hughes holiday book

Meet Lucy and Tom, the creations of Shirley Hughes, illustrator extraordinaire, in her reissued story of everyday family life...wonderfully-observed illustrations remind us all of the fun.

From the creator of Dogger, Shirley Hughes, this timeless book of seaside fun has every element of a wonderful day at the seaside. 
 
From paddling to picnics, from sandcastles to beach games - this is the perfect book for summer celebrations.

Lucy and Tom

Lucy & Tom: From A to Z

Lucy & Tom: From One to Ten

Lucy and Tom at School

Lucy and Tom at Christmas

Lucy and Tom at the Seaside

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