Julia Donaldson
Julia Donaldson (Julia Catherine Shields) was born on September 16th, 1948 and is currently 76 years old. Julia Donaldson was born in Hampstead, London, England.
Julia Donaldson is the author of the Julia Donaldson Picture Books series which currently consists of 139 novels. The Julia Donaldson Picture Books series started in 1993 with the novel A Squash and a Squeeze. The most recently released novel in the Julia Donaldson Picture Books series was Jonty Gentoo: The Adventures of a Penguin which was released in 2024. There is an upcoming novel for the Julia Donaldson Picture Books series entitled The Tooth Fairy and the Crocodile which is being released on April 14th, 2026.
Julia Donaldson (Julia Catherine Shields) has also written the Activity Books series which has 29 books including The Princess and the Wizard Sticker Book and The Princess and the Wizard Activity Book.
Julia Donaldson is a member of The Nielsen Bestseller Award's 21st Century Platinum Hall of Fame.
Julia Donaldson: Awards & Accolades
Julia Donaldson has won many awards including:
- The Gruffalo won the British Book Awards, Children's Book of the Year, in 2005 as well as the Nielsen Awards - Double Platinum Bestseller in 2019.
- Zog won the British Book Awards, Children's Book of the Year, in 2010.
- The Highway Rat won the Nielsen Awards, Gold Bestseller, in 2017.
- Superworm won the Nielsen Awards, Gold Bestseller, in 2017.
- The Scarecrows' Wedding won the Nielsen Awards, Silver Bestseller, in 2017 as well as the Nielsen Awards - Gold Bestseller in 2020.
- Monkey Puzzle won the Nielsen Awards, Platinum Bestseller, in 2018.
- Fox's Socks won the Nielsen Awards, Gold Bestseller, in 2018.
- Stick Man / Bioran won the Nielsen Awards, Platinum Bestseller, in 2018.
- What the Ladybug Heard won the Nielsen Awards, Gold Bestseller, in 2018.
- The Gruffalo's Child won the Nielsen Awards, Platinum Bestseller, in 2019.
- A Squash and a Squeeze won the Nielsen Awards, Platinum Bestseller, in 2020.
- Jonty Gentoo: The Adventures of a Penguin won the British Book Awards, Children's Illustrated Book of the Year, in 2025.
Julia Donaldson books have also been nominated for multiple awards, The Highway Rat was nominated for the British Book Awards, Children's Book of the Year, in 2011. The Further Adventures of the Owl and the Pussy-Cat was nominated for the British Book Awards, Children's Book of the Year, in 2013. The Baddies was nominated for the British Book Awards, Children's Illustrated Book of the Year, in 2023. What the Ladybird Heard at Christmas was nominated for the British Book Awards, Children's Illustrated Book of the Year, in 2023. Jonty Gentoo: The Adventures of a Penguin was nominated for the British Book Awards, Book of the Year, in 2025.
Related Authors
The most common authors followed by users who also follow Julia Donaldson are:
- L. Frank Baum, author of the Oz Series.
- James Patterson, author of the Alex Cross Series.
- John Grisham, author of the Jake Brigance Series.
- Jane Austen, author of the novel: Pride and Prejudice.
- Dan Brown, author of the Robert Langdon Series.
Julia Donaldson: F.A.Q
When was Julia Donaldson Born? How old is Julia Donaldson?
Julia Donaldson was born on September 16th, 1948. Julia Donaldson is currently 76 years old.
Where was Julia Donaldson Born?
Julia Donaldson was born in Hampstead, London, England and is English.
What book awards has Julia Donaldson won?
What was the first book Julia Donaldson wrote?
The first book written by Julia Donaldson was Tim's Bad Mood and Other Stories, published in 1970.
What was the most recent book Julia Donaldson wrote?
Her most recently released work was Jonty Gentoo: The Adventures of a Penguin (a short story) on October 1st, 2024.
Will there be any more books by Julia Donaldson?
Julia Donaldson has a new book coming out on April 14th, 2026 called The Tooth Fairy and the Crocodile.
How many books has Julia Donaldson written?
Julia Donaldson has written 345 books across 23 series, excluding contributions to anthologies.
- 26 books in the Gruffalo Series
- 14 books in the My First Gruffalo Series
- 9 books in the Princess Mirror-Belle Series
- 4 books in the Stick Man Series
- 4 books in the Superworm Series
- 20 books in the Tales from Acorn Wood Series
- 14 books in the What the Ladybird Heard Series
- 8 books in the Zog Series
- 6 Standalone Novels
- 2 Chapter Books
- 139 Picture Books
- 24 Plays
- 5 books in the 's Songbirds Collections Series
- 18 Collections
- 1 Non-Fiction Books
- 9 books in the Bug Club Series
- 29 Activity Books
- 11 Children's Books
- 1 book in the Young Puffin Story Books Series
- 1 Emily Gravett Picture Books
- 1 book in the Bloomsbury Young Readers Series