Susan Varley is a British illustrator and author of children's picture books. Her best known book is ''Badger's Parting Gifts'', a story which aims to be a gentle introduction to old age and bereavement for young children. She both wrote and illustrated the book, and it was awarded the Mother Goose Award in 1985.
Early life
Born in 1961 in
Blackpool, England
Blackpool is a seaside resort in Lancashire, England. Located on the northwest coast of England, it is the main settlement within the borough also called Blackpool. The town is by the Irish Sea, between the Ribble and Wyre rivers, and is ...
''Badger's Parting Gifts'' was Susan Varley's first book, it was published by Andersen Press in 1984. A traditional picture book, it seeks to introduce old age and death to young children through a cast of anthropomorphised woodland characters. It won the 1985 Mother Goose Award, an award for the "most exciting newcomer to British children's book illustration". The judges commented that Varley's treatment of the difficult subject of grief was "just distanced enough" for young children "and in no way mawkish". Some booksellers however reportedly refused to take it at the time, because of the subject matter.
''Badger's Parting Gifts'' is still in print, and in 2019 a 35th anniversary edition was released in partnership with the charity Child Bereavement UK. It continues to be cited by grief counsellors, teachers and journalists as an effective book to facilitate discussions about death and grief with children.
Varley has also illustrated other authors' books, including ''
The Monster Bed
''The Monster Bed'' is a 1987 children's book by Jeanne Willis and illustrated by Susan Varley that revolves around the twist on the common "monsters under the bed" story that frighten children. The book is a young reader, normally aimed for 4 ye ...
'' by
Jeanne Willis
Jeanne Willis (born St Albans, England) is an author of several children's books, including '' The Monster Bed'' (1986),''The Monster Bed'', about the author the '' Dr. Xargle's Book of...'' series (1988–2004), and ''Shamanka'' (2007). Willis wa ...
, ''Two Small Pandas'' and ''Lovely Old Lion'' by
Julia Jarman
Julia Jarman (born 28 March 1946) is a British author of books for children of all reading ages and ability.
Background
Julia Jarman was born Julia Hudspeth in Deeping St James near the city of Peterborough in the UK, and now lives in Riseley, ...
, ''The Spring Rabbit'' by
Joyce Dunbar
Joyce Dunbar (born 6 January 1944) is an English writer. She primarily writes books for children, and has published over seventy books.Martin Waddell.''The Monster Bed'', about the illustrator All are published by Andersen.Andersen Press: Susan Varley /ref>
Personal life
Varley is married, with one daughter. She lives in England.
Selected works
* ''Badger's Parting Gifts'', Andersen Press, London 1984