June Crebbin (born 26 May 1938) is a British writer for children based in Leicestershire. After she took early retirement as a primary school teacher, she wrote and published over 40 books.

June Crebbin
Born (1938-05-26) 26 May 1938 (age 86)
Birstall, England, UK
OccupationTeacher and writer
NationalityBritish
GenreChildren's books

Life

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Crebbin was born in Birstall, Leicestershire, just north of Leicester. She remembered creating poems that her father would type up for her. She trained as a primary school teacher[1] at Dudley Training College and she taught for thirty years. She taught mostly in Leicestershire but in the sixties she taught for a couple of years in Yorkshire and a year in Kalamazoo, MI.[2]

Her later interest in writing led her to take early retirement in 1990.[1] She enjoys riding horses, particularly dressage and she owned a pony and trap. She gets ideas from the children she once taught and by talking at a local riding school where she meets the younger riders.[3] She has created a number of books with horsey themes including Tarquin the Wonder Horse in 2000,[4] her collection of Horse Tales in 2005,[5] Jumping Beany and Ride to the Rescue.

She has written over forty books.[1] Her successes include Fly by Night and Carrie Climbs a Mountain which were recognised with a Book of the Year citation in 1989 and 1993.[2] Her story about a young owl Fly by Night was illustrated by Stephen Lambert and the five stories in Carrie Climbs a Mountain were illustrated by Thelma Lambert.[6][7] Hal the Highwayman, a first reading book illustrated by Polly Dunbar, was Editor's Choice at the children's book magazine Books for Keeps in 2003.[8]

She was chosen to edit Penguin's anthology of poetry The Puffin Book Of Fantastic First Poems.[9]

Private life

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She and her husband John who is also a teacher have two adult sons. They live in Birstall.[2]

Selected works

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  • Fly by Night, illustrated by Stephen Lambert, 1993 Walker Books[10]
  • The Puffin Book Of Fantastic First Poems (editor) 2000[11]
  • My Dog, illustrated by Russell Ayto, 2001 Walker Books
  • The Dragon Test illustrated by Polly Dunbar, 2003[12]
  • Hal the Highway Man illustrated by Polly Dunbar, 2003[13]
  • Lucy and the Fire Stone illustrated by Polly Dunbar, 2003[14]
  • Hal the Pirate illustrated by Polly Dunbar, 2003[15]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Walker Books - June Crebbin". www.walker.co.uk. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
  2. ^ a b c "Crebbin, June 1938– | Encyclopedia.com". www.encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
  3. ^ "Crebbin, June – Jane Badger Books". Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  4. ^ Crebbin, June (2000). Tarquin the Wonder Horse. Walker. ISBN 978-0-7445-5957-6.
  5. ^ Horse Tales. Candlewick Press. 2005. ISBN 978-0-7636-2657-0.
  6. ^ Crebbin, June (1994). Carrie Climbs a Mountain. Walker. ISBN 978-0-7445-3192-3.
  7. ^ "FLY BY NIGHT". Kirkus Reviews. 1 June 1993. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  8. ^ Stones, Rosemary (May 2003). "BfK No. 140". Books for Keeps (140). Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  9. ^ "The Puffin Book of Fantastic First Poems". Centre for Literacy in Primary Education. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  10. ^ Crebbin, June (1995). Fly by Night. Candlewick Press. ISBN 978-1-56402-508-1.
  11. ^ "June Crebbin". www.penguin.co.uk. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
  12. ^ The Dragon Test Walker Books
  13. ^ Hal the Highway Man Walker Books
  14. ^ Lucy and the Fire Stone Walker Books
  15. ^ Hal the Pirate Walker Books