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Alex T. Smith
Alex T. Smith in 2017
Alex T. Smith in 2017
Born (1985-08-02) 2 August 1985 (age 39)
Coventry, Warwickshire, England
OccupationAuthor, Illustrator
Alma materCoventry University
Website
www.alextsmith.com

Alex T. Smith (born (1985-08-02)2 August 1985) is a British author and illustrator of children's books, including Primrose, Egg, Ella, and the Claude book series. He was the illustrator for World Book Day 2014 in September 2013.[1] His books have been published in several languages including Welsh,[2] French,[3] German,[4] Swedish,[5] Italian,[6] Hungarian[7] and Chinese.[8]

Education

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He graduated in 2006 from Coventry University with a degree in illustration.[9]

Claude series

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Claude is a dog. Claude is a small dog. Claude is a small, plump dog. Claude is a small, plump dog who wears a beret and a lovely jumper...

— Alex T. Smith

The adventures of Claude were published in a series of 10 books from 2011 to 2016. Recurring characters include Sir Bobblysock who accompanies Claude, and Mr & Mrs Shinyshoes, Claude's owners.

Claude was chosen as one of Clara Vulliamy's five favorite fictional characters [10] and appears on gift cards produced by National Book Tokens.[11]

In October 2013, it was announced that Claude had been optioned by Sixteen South for television[12] aimed at boys and girls aged 4–6, and premiered on Disney Junior in June 2018.[13]

Bibliography

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  • Eliot Jones, Midnight Superhero (2009) - illustrator; text by Anne Cottringer
  • Home (2010)
  • My Mum has X-Ray Vision (2010) - illustrator; text by Angela McAllister
  • Bella and Monty: A Hairy, Scary Night (2010)
  • Egg (2011)
  • Fantastic Frankie and the Brain-drain Machine (2011) - illustrator; text by Anna Kemp
  • Ella (2012)
  • Eliot, Midnight Superhero (2012 revised edition) - illustrator; text by Anne Cottringer
  • Happy Birthday, Bunny! (2012) - illustrator; text by Anna Schaub
  • Primrose (2013)
  • Catch Us If You Can-Can (2013)
  • Hector and the BIG BAD KNIGHT (2014)[14]
  • Little Red and the Very Hungry Lion (2015)
  • Grave Matter (2017) - illustrator; text by Juno Dawson
  • How Winston Delivered Christmas: A Christmas Story in Twenty-Four-and-a-Half Chapters (2019)
  • The Twelve Days of Christmas: Grandma is Overly Generous (2020)
  • The Grumpus (2022)
  • The Nutcracker: And the Mouse King's Christmas Shenanigans (2023)
  • How Winston Came Home for Christmas (2024)
  • Murder! By Narwhal! (2024)

Tom & Matt Series

  • The Baddie (2010) - illustrator; text by Anna Maxted
  • The Horrible Princess (2010) - illustrator; text by Anna Maxted

Claude Series

  • Claude in the City (2011)
  • Claude on Holiday (2011) (republished as 'Claude at the Beach')
  • Claude at the Circus (2012)
  • Claude in the Country (2012)
  • Claude in the Spotlight (2013)
  • Claude on the Slopes (2013)
  • Claude at Sea (2016) (picture book)
  • Claude: Lights! Camera! Action! (2016)
  • Claude Going for Gold (2016)
  • Santa Claude (2016)
  • Claude at the Palace (2020)

Mr Penguin Series

  • Mr Penguin and the Lost Treasure (2017)
  • Mr Penguin and the Fortress of Secrets (2018)
  • Mr Penguin and the Catastrophic Cruise (2019)
  • Mr Penguin and the Tomb of Doom (2021)

Astrid and the Space Cadets Series

  • Astrid and the Space Cadets: Attack of the Snailiens! (2024)
  • Astrid and the Space Cadets: Race from Planet Peril! (2024)
  • Astrid and the Space Cadets: Danger at the Black Lagoon! (2025)
  • Astrid and the Space Cadets: Calamity on Planet Shivers! (2025)

Critical reception of books

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  • Catch Us If You Can-Can has been called "hilarious"[15] by The Guardian.
  • Claude in the Spotlight is thought of as "a very funny book, with lots of great pictures" by The Guardian[16] and Booktrust described it as "An utterly charming book for emerging readers."[17] Metro appreciated the "quirky illustrations and plenty of humour."[18]
  • Claude in the City reminded Martin Chilton writing in The Telegraph of "the fine stories of Allan Ahlberg."[19] TheBookBag "loved everything about this book" and especially enjoyed the sense of fun, and how rich the text and pictures were for younger readers.".[20] Claude in the City was described by the kidlit blog, There's a Book, as the "perfect transition from picture books to chapter books."[21]

Awards and recognitions

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  • 2006 Second prize in the Macmillan Prize for Children's Picture Book Illustration.[22]
  • 2009 Longlisted for the Kate Greenaway Medal.[22]
  • 2011 Stockport School's Book Award for My mum has X-ray Vision by Alex T. Smith and Angela McAllister.[23]
  • 2011 Dundee Picture Book Award for Bella & Monty.[23]
  • 2013 Longlisted for the Kate Greenaway Medal for Claude at the Circus.
  • 2014 Longlisted for the Kate Greenaway Medal for Claude in the Spotlight.[24]
  • 2016 Longlisted for the Kate Greenaway Medal for The Hundred and One Dalmatians.[25]

References

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  1. ^ "About the World Book Day Illustrator | World Book Day". Archived from the original on 16 October 2013. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
  2. ^ "www.gwales.com - 9781849671552, Cyfres Clem: 2. Clem ar Wyliau". gwales.com. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  3. ^ "Les aventures de Léon". ricochet-jeunes.org. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  4. ^ "Literatur: Erstlesebuch "Luis in der Stadt" - hohes Niveau - badische-zeitung.de". badische-zeitung.de. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  5. ^ "Smith, A - Claude på semester - 29686944". rabensjogren.se. Archived from the original on 15 August 2016. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  6. ^ "Pablo in vacanza - Gallucci editore". galluccieditore.com. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  7. ^ "Mano Konyvek". kiadok.lira.hu. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  8. ^ "淘气狗克劳德 (豆瓣)". book.douban.com. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  9. ^ "Alex T. Smith - Hachette Children's Group". hachettechildrens.co.uk. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  10. ^ "Clara Vulliamy's five favorite characters - Telegraph". telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  11. ^ "Alex T. Smith: CLAUDE National Book Tokens!". alextsmith.blogspot.co.uk. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  12. ^ "Book Trade Announcements - 'Claude' Optioned For Television By Sixteen South". booktrade.info. Archived from the original on 14 August 2016. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  13. ^ "New Sixteen South show Claude set to air on Disney Junior channel". Irish News. 25 May 2018. Retrieved 24 March 2019.
  14. ^ "Alex T. Smith: HECTOR and the BIG BAD KNIGHT - now available to preorder!". alextsmith.blogspot.co.uk. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  15. ^ "Catch us if you Can-Can by Alex T Smith - review | Children's books | The Guardian". guardian.co.uk. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  16. ^ "Claude in the Spotlight by Alex T Smith - review | Children's books | The Guardian". guardian.co.uk. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  17. ^ "Claude in the Spotlight by Alex T Smith | Book Trust". booktrust.org.uk. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  18. ^ "Books for kids's summer reading: Experts recommend the best picks | Metro News". metro.co.uk. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  19. ^ "Claude In The City by Alex T Smith: review - Telegraph". telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  20. ^ "Claude in the City by Alex T Smith - TheBookbag.co.uk book review". thebookbag.co.uk. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  21. ^ "Book Review: Claude In The City by Alex T. Smith | There's A Book". theresabook.com. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  22. ^ a b "Alex T. Smith - We Are Writers". writers.scholastic.co.uk. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  23. ^ a b "Alex T Smith Portfolio". www.arenaillustration.com. Archived from the original on 9 August 2013. Retrieved 9 December 2017.
  24. ^ "Alex T Smith: Claude In The Spotlight Nominated for The CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal 2014". www.arenaillustration.com. 6 November 2013. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  25. ^ "Alex T Smith: CILIP Medal Nominations". www.arenaillustration.com. 19 October 2015. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
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