Songs
I come from a musical background - my father played the cello and my mother loved to sing.
As a student I went busking in Paris, and began writing my own songs for adults and children. When I sent a tape of songs to the BBC they started to use them on children’s television programmes. Meanwhile I was singing my “grown up” songs in folk clubs with my husband Malcolm, and we have now produced albums of these songs - First Fourteen and Second Fourteen
It was only when the words of one of my songs, “A Squash and a Squeeze” were made into a book in 1993 that I turned my hand to book-writing. Now I often write songs to go with the books, and these are included in the audio and Big Book versions. (See Audio and Big Books.)
I’m delighted that there are now three collections of my songs, both
illustrated by Axel Scheffler (scroll down for details.) You can see Malcolm
and me singing some of these songs on the Gruffalo website.
I have also written two family musicals for adults to perform and one for
children to act. (See Musicals.)
The Gruffalo Song and Other Songs
illustrated by Axel Scheffler
Macmillan,
isbn 978-1405022347
I have always written songs, including over 80 for children’s television programmes. When I perform these in schools, teachers have often asked me if they can buy a tape or c.d. Well, now they can! This book and c.d. contains nine songs – some of the television ones alongside some newer ones based on my picture books. I sing them myself, with a great live band, and there is also an instrumental version, which provides an accompaniment for schools or families without an instrument-player. The book contains the words, guitar chords and the music arranged for piano.
Click the play button for the Funny Face chorus
Room an the Broom and Other Songs
illustrated by Axel Scheffler
Macmillan,
isbn 978-1405053662
A second collection of songs, some of them based on my picture books, others with actions for children to join in at home or school. The book is accompanied by a CD in which my husband Malcolm and I sing the songs accompanied by some brilliant musicians. The book contains the words, guitar chords and music arranged for piano, and is wittily illustrated by Axel Scheffler.
Click here to see Julia and Malcolm singing one of the songs from the book
The Gruffalo's Child and Other Songs
illustrated by Axel Scheffler
Macmillan,
isbn 978-1447213741
A third collection of songs, some of them based on my picture books, including the Stick Man song, others with actions for children to join in at home or school. The book is accompanied by a CD in which my husband Malcolm and I sing the songs accompanied by some brilliant musicians. There is an instrumental-only version at the end. The book contains the words, guitar chords and music arranged for piano, and is wittily illustrated by Axel Scheffler.
The Sharing a Shell Song
illustrated
by Lydia Monks
Macmillan,
isbn 978 0 2300 1495 4
This is a small book, originally produced for World Book Day 2007, which has the words, melody line and chord symbols for the song based on my picture book Sharing a Shell.
Click to see Julia and Malcolm sing the Sharing a Shell song
The Gruffalo Song
illustrated by Axel Scheffler
Macmillan,
isbn 978-0333962299
This is a small book, originally produced for World Book Day 2001, which has the words, melody line and chord symbols for the song based on my picture book The Gruffalo.
The Room on the Broom Song
illustrated by Axel Scheffler
Macmillan,
isbn 978-0333992845
This is a small book, originally produced for World Book Day 2002, which has the words, melody line and chord symbols for the song based on my picture book Room on the Broom
The Tyrannosaurus Drip Song
illustrated by Axel Scheffler
Macmillan,
isbn 9780230736108
This is a small book, produced for World Book Day 2009, which has the words, melody line and chord symbols for the song based on my picture book Tyrannosaurus Drip
Click here to see Julia and Malcolm singing the Tyrannosaurus Drip song
What the Ladybird Heard Song
illustrated by Axel Scheffler
Macmillan,
isbn 978-1447207832
This is a small book, produced for World Book Day 2012, which has the words, melody line and chord symbols for the song based on my picture book What the Ladybird Heard