RIP, Jill Barklem & Brambly Hedge

We we sorry too to hear of the death of childrens' graphic books writer and illustrator Jill Barklem, at the early age of 66. I have long enjoyed her series of books of BRAMBLY HEDGE with their endlessly fascinating illustrations of the mice who live there, in the series of four books charting the seasons: SPRING STORY, SUMMER STORY, AUTUMN STORY, WINTER STORY. The mice live in their little houses, so splendidly detailed, in the tranquil hedgerows and the illustrations of trees show how they have stores, and bedrooms, and lovely cosy living rooms, by the fire, as the community of mice live amid the wild roses, brambles and elderberries of a hedgerow. 


In the winter they have a Snow Ball with lots of marvellous observation too. 

She wrote the stories and did all the illustrations. The hobbits' homes in the LORD OF THE RINGS series gives one a flavor of their underground retreats. 

Children of all ages would find her books endlessly fascinating and they have been huge bestsellers and led to merchandise like Royal Doulton figures to stationery.