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Gruffalo, News -

Author in Focus - Julia Donaldson We explore the life and career of one of the UK's most successful authors and children's Laureate. A Creative Childhood Julia Donaldson grew up in London in the 1960s, living in a terraced Victorian house with her parents, grandmother, uncle and auntie and sister. Julia and her sister would often be found writing shows and choreographing ballets together which would help steer her creativity in her later years. At University, Julia studied Drama and French and it was there that she met a guitar playing medic, Malcolm whom she later married. Together they used to busk on the...

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Gruffalo, Soft Toys, store news -

We shed light on one the UK's favourite children's illustrators and unique Style Who is Axel Scheffler? German-born Axel Scheffler began his career in advertising and publishing in the 1980's. After studying briefly at the University of Hamburg, Germany, he dropped out of his History and Art course, instead, pursuing National Service in his home country. By 1982, Axel was 25 years old and living in London studying Visual Communications at the Bath Academy of Art in Wiltshire. It was during these years, (1982 - 1984) that he decided he wanted to be a children's illustrator.    Axel SchefflerBy 1988, his...

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Soft Toys, store news -

Whether you read science fiction or biographies of inspirational figures, World Book Day is a celebration of the written word and all that it represents. Books have been empowering humans for millennia. Not only do book provide us with knowledge, they educate us enabling us to learn from others, bringing us closer to the author, re-telling their story, inspiring you and firing up your imagination.  When you look at the written word on a fundamental level, books are quite something. Yet with the advent of digital technology, epitomised by e-book readers, people thought that the days were numbered for the humble...

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Top 5 Julia Donaldson Story Books -

These are our top 5 favourite Julia Donaldson book titles voted staff at Character Toy Store 1. The Gruffalo Probably one of her most famous stories, is that of the Gruffalo. The story of the Mouse, the bravest of protagonists and the huge hideous Gruffalo which takes place in the deep dark wood. The story is filled with excitement,  suspense and thrilling adventure, brought to life through stunning illustrations from Axel Scheffler.   Buy Gruffalo Soft Toys 2. Room on the Broom The story follows the adventures of a friendly witch and her cat as she flies across stormy lands. Picking up...

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Covid-19 is causing delays in supply chains throughout the world It comes as no surprise that Covid-19 has and is currently having long lasting impacts of the the supply of the items we buy, from abroad - from white goods to soft toys, the affects are far reaching.  These significant issues facing global shipping are the result of container ships being unable to ship from Indonesia from November 2020 up until as recently as mid February. Despite global customer demand being reduced, ports are actually full of full containers, thus there is a shortage of empty containers and Ships refuse...

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