# Hilary Robinson (author)

Hilary Robinson FRSA is a British award winning children's author of over 70 books, broadcaster, radio producer and feature writer.

## Background

The daughter of lecturers, Robinson grew up in Zaria, Nigeria during the Nigerian Civil War,and later in Dorset and Yorkshire. Her father, P. H. Turner, was an economist and a biographer of David Livingstone who established an educational trust and spearheaded the building of a non-profit independent school in Zaria, Nigeria. Robinson attended this school with other local and overseas children, including theatre director Rufus Norris. Later, she attended a mixed state comprehensive, Hemsworth High School, in West Yorkshire. Her mother was a lecturer in mathematics and statistics with the Open University.

## Career
### Radio producer

Robinson worked at Radio Aire, TV-am and Yorkshire Television and the BBC's Faith and Ethics Department. She is now an independent radio producer.

## Selected Radio Producer Credits

* Good Morning Sunday (BBC Radio 2) Live, weekly music and faith based show (2005-2024)
* Private Peaceful, radio drama narrated by Robson Green (2008)
* Hang A Thousand Trees with Ribbons, radio drama narrated by Sophie Okondeo (2007)
* In His Hands, presented by Candi Staton (2007)
* Lenny Bruce Is Dead, presented by Simon Amstell (2008)
* Behind Enemy Lines, presented by John McCarthy (2009)
* The Robeson Files, presented by Dotun Adebayo (2011)
* Barry Humphries' Forgotten Musical Masterpieces, executive producer Hilary Robinson (6 series 2016-2023)
* Radio 2 Remembers Barry Humphries, presented by Steve Wright, executive producer Hilary Robinson (2023)
* At The Foot of the Cross, presented by Revd Kate Bottley (2024)
* Christmas Carols with the Revd Kate Bottley (2024)

## Book awards
### Where The Poppies Now Grow

* The Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals 2015 – Nominations
* The Hampshire School's Library Award 2014 - shortlisted
* The Education Resources Award 2015 - finalist
* English Association Book Award 2015 – shortlist
* Rubery Book Award 2015 – shortlisted
* Coventry Libraries Book Award 2016 – shortlisted

### The Christmas Truce

* The Education Resources Award 2015 – finalist
* Sheffield Children's Book Award 2015 – finalist
* The People's Book Prize 2016 – finalist

### Flo Of The Somme

* WINNER – Historical Association – Young Quillss Award 2016
* WINNER - North Somerset Teacher's Book Award Poetry section 2016
* WINNER - EOCT/SLS Picture Book Award 2017

### A Song For Will and The Lost Gardeners of Heligan

* WINNER - North Somerset Teacher's Book Award Quality Fiction 2017
* SHORTLIST - Historical Association's Young Quills Award 2018
* WINNER - Books for children of Primary Age
* WINNER - Awarded for authorship in the class for children and young adults

### Gregory Goose is on the Loose - Up The Mountain

* SHORTLIST - Sheffield Children's Book Award - 2021

## Personal

Robinson lives and works in London and Yorkshire. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a member of the Society of Authors.

## Charity

Robinson is a voluntary supporter of several charities including:

### The Federation of Children's Book Groups

A national voluntary self-funded organisation whose aim is to promote enjoyment and interest in children's books and reading and to encourage the availability of books for children of all ages, from first picture books to young adult.

### The National Literacy Trust

A national charity that aims to empower people with the literacy skills they need to succeed in life. The National Literacy Trust

### Patron of Reading - Extol Trust

Based in the North East of England the partnership of schools is driven by social and civic responsibility; ensuring that all pupils, regardless of background or where they go to school have equal access to high quality education.

## Stationers' Company

On 14 October 2024 at a ceremony in London, Robinson became a Freeman of the Stationers' Company, (the City of London Company for the Communications and Content Industries).

## Selected Literary Festival Appearances

* Keighley Children's Literature Festival
* Manx Literary Festival
* Blackburn Literary Festival
* Shrewbury Lit Fest
* Derby Book Festival
* Broadway Arts Festival
* Chalke Valley History Festival

## Books

* 1995 Sarah the Spider
* 1995 Sarah the Spider Prima Spiderina
* Learning English With Ozmo
* 1999 E-mail: Jesus@Bethlehem
* 1999 Sarah the Spider and the Barn Dancers
* 1999 Sarah the Spider's Christmas Surprise
* 2000 Mr. Spotty's Potty
* 2000 Spells and Smells
* 2002 Freddie's Fears
* 2002 Pick it Up (The Green Gang)
* 2002 The Green Gang - Raffy's Party
* 2002 Scrapman Stan And The Magical Mixer Fixer
* 2003 E-mail: Jesus@Anytime
* 2003 Flynn Flies High
* 2003 Pippin's Big Jump
* 2004 Batty Betty's Spells
* 2004 How to Teach a Dragon Manners
* 2004 Mixed Up Fairy Tales
* 2005 Cinder Wellie
* 2005 Croc by the Rock (also Big Book edition)
* 2005 Pet to School Day
* 2005 Rapunzel
* 2005 The Frog Prince
* 2005 The Princess's Secret Letters
* 2006 Aladdin and the Lamp
* 2006 Over the Moon!
* 2006 The Little Match Girl
* 2006 The Royal Jumble Sale
* 2007 Pocahontas the Peacemaker
* 2007 The Princess's Secret Sleepover
* 2008 Goldilocks and the Wolf
* 2008 Snow White and the Enormous Turnip (also Big Book edition)
* 2008 The Elves and the Emperor
* 2009 Ted's Party Bus
* 2009 Three Pigs and a Gingerbread Man
* 2010 The Big Book of Magical Mix-Ups
* 2012 Hooray! It's Book Day - Franklin Watts
* 2012 The Copper Tree -
* 2012 The Copper Tree Class Christmas Surprise
* 2013 The Copper Tree Class Help A Hamster
* 2013 Mixed Up Nursery Rhymes
* 2013 Beauty, The Beast and The Pea
* 2013 Hansel and Gretel and the Ugly Duckling
* 2013 Rapunzel and the Billy Goats Gruff
* 2013 Cinderella and the Beanstalk
* 2014 Where The Poppies Now Grow
* 2014 The Christmas Truce
* 2014 Rapunzel (Must Know Stories), Franklin Watts
* 2015 Aladdin (Must Know Stories), Franklin Watts
* 2015 Tom's Sunflower
* 2015 Flo Of The Somme
* 2016 Sid's Red Card, Franklin Watts
* 2016 The Frog Prince (Must Know Series), Franklin Watts
* 2016 Favourite Mixed Up Fairy Tales
* 2016 A Song For Will – Strauss House Productions
* 2017 Christmas Fairy Tales Mix-Up - Hodder
* 2018 Peace Lilly – Strauss House Productions
* 2018 Spooky Fairy Tale Mix Up - Hodder
* 2019 Jasper Space Dog - Strauss House Productions
* 2019 Gregory Goose Is On The Loose in Space (November) - New Frontier
* 2019 Gregory Goose Is On The Loose in the Jungle (December) - New Frontier
* 2020 Jasper Viking Dog (February) - Strauss House Productions
* 2020 Gregory Goose Is On The Loose Up the Mountain (March) - New Frontier
* 2020 Gregory Goose Is On The Loose at the Fair (March) - New Frontier
* 2021 The Christmas Star - SPCK
* 2021 Ten Little Yoga Frogs - New Frontier
* 2021 Twelve Little Festive Frogs - New Frontier
* 2021 Old Tabby Brontë, The Servant's Tale - Strauss House Productions
* 2022 God's Love In A Nut Shell - SPCK
* 2022 Tatty Mouse, Rockstar - New Frontier
* 2022 Tatty Mouse - Super Racer - New Frontier
* 2023 Tatty Mouse - Christmas - New Frontier
* 2024 Paw Together For God - SPCK
* 2024 Tatty Mouse - Birthday Surprise - New Frontier
* 2025 The Murder of PC Austwick (1855-1886) - Strauss House Productions
* 2025 The Hare and the Tortoise (Franklin Watts)
* 2025 The Helpful Pisky - Franklin Watts