Australian children's book author From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Abie Longstaff is an Australian-born British[1] author of children's fiction known for The Fairytale Hairdresser picture book series,[2][3] illustrated by Lauren Beard, as well as books for older children and educational books for schools.
Abie Longstaff | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Longstaff being introduced at the Hay Festival in 2017 | |
| Born | Australia |
| Occupation | Author |
| Language | English |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Genre | Children's fiction |
| Notable works | The Fairytale Hairdresser |
| Website | |
| www | |
Longstaff was raised in Australia and lived in Hong Kong and France before relocating to England, where she resides today. She lives in Hove.[1] Before becoming a writer Longstaff was a barrister and a legal policy analyst with an interest in policing.[4]
Longstaff appears in the British Library’s current list of the "Top 500 Most Borrowed Authors" at number 192.[5]
Along with illustrator Lauren Beard, she is the winner of the Never Too Young Award[6] for the best book for children under four for The Mummy Shop.
Longstaff was a judge for the Amnesty (Carnegie) CILIP 2018 Commendation which was eventually won by Angie Thomas's The Hate U Give.[7] In 2019 she was elected to the Management Committee of the Society of Authors[8]
The Nickelodeon children's television series Sunny Day, produced by Silvergate Media,[9] is based on Longstaff's The Fairytale Hairdresser books.[10][11]
Longstaff's fiction incorporates the genre and associated tropes of fairy tales and magic,[12] frequently offset with modern settings and humour.[13]
Her Fairytale Hairdresser books have been described as giving ‘a new spin on a traditional fairy tale’.[14] The Guardian called them considerably more nuanced and subversive than they appear on the surface[15] and they are known for their positive representation of diversity and multiculturalism.[16]
Longstaff's books for older children make use of historical references,[17] and complex literary elements such as footnotes and non-fiction material, alongside characters who are ‘brave and smart and inspirational’.[18]
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