Helen Ward (1) (1962–)
Author of The Tin Forest
For other authors named Helen Ward, see the disambiguation page.
Works by Helen Ward
Associated Works
Wizardology: The Book of the Secrets of Merlin (2005) — Illustrator, some editions — 1,451 copies, 7 reviews
Pirateology: The Pirate Hunter's Companion (Ologies) (2006) — Illustrator, some editions — 1,177 copies, 12 reviews
Mythology: The Gods, Heroes, and Monsters of Ancient Greece (2007) — Illustrator, some editions — 723 copies, 5 reviews
Alienology : The Complete Book of Extraterrestrials (2010) — Illustrator, some editions — 100 copies
Deadly Venom: The World's Most Poisonous Animals (Curious Creatures) (1991) — Illustrator — 8 copies
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Birthdate
- 1962
- Gender
- female
- Education
- Brighton School of Art
- Occupations
- illustrator
- Short biography
- Walker Prize for Children's Illustration, 1985. The National Art Library Awards 1998 and 2001 for The Hare and the Tortoise and her version of Kenneth Grahame's The Wind in the Willows in the Templar Classic series, and The National Art Library Award for The Tin Forest. She was shortlisted for the prestigious Kate Greenaway Award in 2003 for The Cockerel and the Fox. This book also won the award in the children’s trade category at the British Book Design and Production Awards presented in November 2003.
- Nationality
- UK
- Places of residence
- Stroud, Gloucestershire, England, UK
- Associated Place (for map)
- England, UK
Members
Discussions
What is it about Helen Ward? in Picture books (May 2021)
Reviews
The illustrations in this book are gorgeous, and it's all about dragons, so how can my family fail to love it? In the story, George is a lonely boy who realizes that dragons are all around him. Somehow, they manage to pass unnoticed in the city, and since that is the way George feels - overlooked - he has an affinity for them. He feeds them cookies and stinky cheese, and they take to following him around like ducklings. Unfortunately, this brings George a lot of trouble, as he is constantly show more blamed for their accidents. He's afraid that others will discover them, and capture them, so he does a little research on a map that says Here be Dragons (how fun is that?) and learns that the dragons have a home far away from the city, in a great wilderness. He builds a flying dragon machine, and with all the dragons following, leads them to their true home.
The story evokes a child's imagination, and the pictures are wonderful. The way the dragons blend in to the background, the hide-and-seek nature of some pages, and the adorable scaly look of the dragons themselves are all appealing, and George looks like a shy and sweet boy who is lonely. He finds fulfillment in his dragon friends, and you can read this on two levels: first as a fantasy, where he really meets the dragons, and second as a representation of George's imagination, where the dragons are his own creations and we see them because we are seeing the world through George's eyes. In the end, he is able to set his dragons free because he is no longer overlooked and ignored; his parents find him in the wilderness, thereby proving their love for him, and even buy him a friend in the shape of a dog. George is happier, but he doesn't lose his sense of imagination, because the last pictures show him playing with his suspiciously dragon-like dog and holding a little dragon in one arm. I like the ideas presented about imagination and possibility, and the interplay between real and necessary relationships and the ability to create our own friendships that are just for us. If the story had incorporated George's parents earlier - for instance, explaining why they don't realize that their son is sad, or even giving any reason at all for George's isolation - the ending would have had a more powerful resonance when his parents do go to find him. Nonetheless, this is still a cute story, very fanciful, with great illustrations, and the prose is clean and evocative and great for reading out loud. show less
The story evokes a child's imagination, and the pictures are wonderful. The way the dragons blend in to the background, the hide-and-seek nature of some pages, and the adorable scaly look of the dragons themselves are all appealing, and George looks like a shy and sweet boy who is lonely. He finds fulfillment in his dragon friends, and you can read this on two levels: first as a fantasy, where he really meets the dragons, and second as a representation of George's imagination, where the dragons are his own creations and we see them because we are seeing the world through George's eyes. In the end, he is able to set his dragons free because he is no longer overlooked and ignored; his parents find him in the wilderness, thereby proving their love for him, and even buy him a friend in the shape of a dog. George is happier, but he doesn't lose his sense of imagination, because the last pictures show him playing with his suspiciously dragon-like dog and holding a little dragon in one arm. I like the ideas presented about imagination and possibility, and the interplay between real and necessary relationships and the ability to create our own friendships that are just for us. If the story had incorporated George's parents earlier - for instance, explaining why they don't realize that their son is sad, or even giving any reason at all for George's isolation - the ending would have had a more powerful resonance when his parents do go to find him. Nonetheless, this is still a cute story, very fanciful, with great illustrations, and the prose is clean and evocative and great for reading out loud. show less
The traditional Christmas carol of The Friendly Beasts - which combines a twelfth century French melody known as Orientis Partibus, with English lyrics written by Robert Davis in the 1920s - is given the picture-book treatment by Helen Ward, and the result is a holiday title that is as visually stunning as it is textually engaging. "IN A DARKENING SKY / a star shone bright / Over Bethlehem one winter's night. / Over the roofs of the sleeping town, / On a humble stable / the star shone down" show more begins The Animals' Christmas Carol, which pairs an immensely readable text, in rhyming verse, with gorgeous illustrations that capture the beauty of each creature being depicted.
This is a book that succeeds on every level - typographically, textually, illustratively, narratively, even physically! As an object, it is large - almost oversized - and is a pleasure to hold. The typeface varies in size, as does the capitalization scheme, both lending emphasis to certain segments of text. The text itself is given in rhyming verse, and reads well, grabbing the reader and/or listener's attention, and never letting go. The story - in which the animals large and small each proffer their gift to the newborn Christ child - is poignant, a reminder that both humble and great have found meaning in this figure, and his story. Finally, the artwork is breathtaking, with each animal depicted in loving detail, often against a metallic gold background.
The overall effect of all of this is simply stunning! This is just a wonderful Christmas book, highly recommended to anyone looking for beautiful retellings of the Nativity story. show less
This is a book that succeeds on every level - typographically, textually, illustratively, narratively, even physically! As an object, it is large - almost oversized - and is a pleasure to hold. The typeface varies in size, as does the capitalization scheme, both lending emphasis to certain segments of text. The text itself is given in rhyming verse, and reads well, grabbing the reader and/or listener's attention, and never letting go. The story - in which the animals large and small each proffer their gift to the newborn Christ child - is poignant, a reminder that both humble and great have found meaning in this figure, and his story. Finally, the artwork is breathtaking, with each animal depicted in loving detail, often against a metallic gold background.
The overall effect of all of this is simply stunning! This is just a wonderful Christmas book, highly recommended to anyone looking for beautiful retellings of the Nativity story. show less
Just a the blurb says, gorgeous pix and poetic text. The only problem I have with the book is that it is obviously a paean to the so-called 'simple' life of the country. But the Aesop version had, imo, a more valuable lesson, that neither country nor city life is best for everyone, but each individual should be able to choose where s/he feels most comfortable & fulfilled.
Still, a this is book that would make a much-appreciated gift to a godchild or grandbaby, perhaps especially one living in show more a suburb or small city. The pictures do invite repeated close viewing and the text would be especially nice to read aloud at bedtime, even over & over again. show less
Still, a this is book that would make a much-appreciated gift to a godchild or grandbaby, perhaps especially one living in show more a suburb or small city. The pictures do invite repeated close viewing and the text would be especially nice to read aloud at bedtime, even over & over again. show less
This is an exceptionally lovely rendition of the story. The animals are depicted in natural style - no clothing or anthropomorphic props. Each page is lush with nature or city abundance, and there is sly humor here. The town mouse is bragging "And we don't have dangerous wild animals." as the two mice pass a sleeping fawn. In town, the danger is presented by a vigilant and pugnacious pug dog. The tabletop abundance and mouseprints remind me of The Mouse in the House, by Henrietta.
The show more paintings are lush and moody - harvest fields by moonlight type. Love to dawdle on these pages and drink in the richness. show less
The show more paintings are lush and moody - harvest fields by moonlight type. Love to dawdle on these pages and drink in the richness. show less
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Statistics
- Works
- 27
- Also by
- 14
- Members
- 2,028
- Popularity
- #12,677
- Rating
- 4.0
- Reviews
- 59
- ISBNs
- 170
- Languages
- 13