Aileen Paterson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Aileen Francis Paterson
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| Born | 30 November 1934 Burntisland, Fife, Scotland
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| Died | 23 March 2018 (aged 83) Edinburgh, Scotland
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| Occupation | Author and Illustrator |
| Children | 4 daughters, 2 sons |
Aileen Francis Paterson (born November 30, 1934 – died March 23, 2018) was a Scottish writer and artist. She was best known for her popular series of children's books. These books featured a brave and adventurous kitten named Maisie MacKenzie. Aileen Paterson was also awarded an MBE for her important work in children's literature.
About Aileen Paterson
Aileen Paterson was born in the Scottish town of Burntisland in 1934. When she was a child, her family moved to Kirkcaldy. In 1951, she began studying at Edinburgh Art College. She focused on pottery and earned a diploma in 1955. After college, she worked at potteries in Portobello, Edinburgh.
Later, Aileen became an art teacher. She taught art in Fife during the 1960s. For most of her life, she lived in Edinburgh. She loved the city very much. She continued to work as an art teacher from the 1960s to the 1980s.
In 2015, Aileen Paterson received a special award. She was given an MBE for her great contributions to children's books. She passed away on March 23, 2018, at the age of 83.
The World of Maisie MacKenzie
Aileen Paterson's first book was called Maisie Comes to Morningside. It was published in 1984. The idea for the title came from a book by American crime writer Chester Himes.
Maisie MacKenzie is the main character in Aileen Paterson's books. Maisie is a kitten who wears a kilt and a Fair Isle jumper. She lives in Morningside, which is a part of Edinburgh. Maisie is a brave and adventurous character. She explores a world that shows the good things in life. These include friendship, tasty food, fun, community, and even football. The stories are clever and funny. They are enjoyed by both children and adults.
Maisie's world is mostly filled with other cats. There is also a grumpy budgie and sometimes a horse. But you won't find any dogs or humans in her adventures. Even though her world is full of animals, Maisie's adventures happen in real places. The book illustrations show these places. She visits cities like Edinburgh, Glasgow, Paris, and New York. For example, in Maisie Bites the Big Apple, she sees the famous Marc Chagall murals. These are found in the Metropolitan Opera House.
Aileen Paterson's last book in the Maisie series came out in 2006. In this story, Maisie investigates strange events. These events take place in Edinburgh's Botanic Gardens.
In 2011, Lothian Buses made Maisie the face of their Number 5 bus. This bus route goes right through Morningside, Maisie's home area. After Aileen Paterson passed away in 2018, a special memorial stone was placed. It features an image of 'Maisie of Morningside'. The stone is in Edinburgh's Grange cemetery.
Maisie in Other Media
Some of Maisie's stories were also turned into an animated TV show. The show was called Meeow!. The famous actor Stanley Baxter was one of the voices in the series.
Selected Books
Aileen Paterson wrote many books. Here are some of her most well-known works:
- Maisie comes to Morningside (1984)
- Maisie goes to Glasgow (1984)
- Maisie's Mystery Tour (1984)
- Maisie Meets her Match (1984)
- Maisie in London (1985)
- Maisie and the Monster (1985)
- Little Marco (1987)
- Maisie goes to School (1988)
- Maisie and the Space Invader (1988)
- Maisie and the Posties (1988)
- Maisie's Festival Adventure (1988)
- Maisie Loves Paris (1989)
- Maisie goes to Hospital (1989)
- Maisie's Colouring Book (1990)
- What Maisie did Next (1991)
- Maisie in the Rainforest (1992)
- Maisie and the Puffer (1992)
- The Pigs of Puddledub (1992)
- Maisie Digs up the Past (1994)
- Maisie at the Edinburgh Book Festival (1994)
- Maisie Goes to Hollywood (1994)
- Maisie's Merry Christmas (1995)
- Maisie's Second Colouring Book (1995)
- Maisie's Fun and Games Activity Book (1996)
- Children's Guide to Edinburgh [illustrated] (1997)
- Maisie and the Pirates (1998)
- Maisie's Millennium Calendar (1999)
- Maisie Jumps into Japan (2000)
- Maisie Bites the Big Apple (2002)
- Maisie and the Abominable Snowcat (2004)
- Maisie and the Botanic Garden Mystery (2006)
- Maisie's Botanic Activity Book (2008)
Aileen Paterson also wrote stories for other collections of writings:
- Braw Stories (2005)
- Scottish Summer Schools (2007)
