Ivy Wallace facts for kids

Ivy Lilian Wallace (born October 7, 1915 – died March 13, 2006) was a talented British author, artist, and actress. She is most famous for creating the beloved Pookie and The Animal Shelf series of children's books, which she also illustrated.

Ivy's Early Life and Inspiration

Ivy was born in Grimsby, England. Her father was a Scottish doctor. From a young age, Ivy loved nature. She often went with her father into the beautiful bluebell woods and flower-filled meadows of Lincolnshire. Her father was very interested in plants and insects. He taught Ivy to paint plants in a very accurate way.

Ivy had a vivid imagination. She started writing stories and drawing pictures. Her parents saw her talent and encouraged her to become an artist. She went to school locally and later attended Harrogate Ladies College. There, she became known for her drawings and fun poems.

After school, Ivy became a successful actress. She worked with the Felixstowe Repertory Theatre and the Hull New Theatre Company. When World War II began, she joined the British film industry. She helped make films for the Ministry of Information. Later in the war, she joined the police force. It was while working for the police that she first imagined Pookie, the winged rabbit.

How Pookie Was Created

Ivy was working on a police switchboard. She was doodling a picture of a fairy on a toadstool. A small rabbit was in front of the fairy. By chance, the wings in her drawing looked like they belonged to the rabbit! She decided that fairies were "too common." So, she erased the fairy and kept the little winged rabbit.

She named him Pookie because "he had a little pookie face." Then, she wrote his story. It began: “This is the story of Pookie, a little white furry rabbit, with soft, floppity ears, big blue eyes and the most lovable rabbit smile in the world.”

Publishing Success and Family Life

Ivy illustrated her stories with beautiful, detailed watercolor paintings. These pictures perfectly matched her imaginative tales. In 1945, after the war ended, her friends encouraged her to find a publisher. She visited William Collins & Sons in London without an appointment. She was turned away at first but left her manuscript.

A few weeks later, William Hope Collins contacted her. He asked her to come to the Glasgow office, where the children's books section was. Ivy borrowed money from her brother for a new dress and a "big hat." She wanted to look more "serious." She took the train north to Glasgow.

She met with William Hope Collins. Not only did William accept her book, but he also fell in love with Ivy! In 1950, Ivy and William got married. They moved to the Scottish Borders. They were a very loving couple and had two daughters: Heather (born 1952) and Cherry (born 1956).

Ivy started her own company, Pookie Productions Ltd. She wrote ten Pookie books. She also wrote the very popular Animal Shelf series for younger children. For older children, she wrote The Young Warrenders series. For over 20 years, Ivy's wonderful books were incredibly popular. They were bestsellers all over the world.

Pookie stories were translated into many languages. They were read in places like Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and South Africa. In Australia, the stories were even broadcast on the radio in a show called Pookie's Half-Hour. Thousands of children attended Pookie events. Ivy also had a successful career as a writer and illustrator for Wm Collins & Sons and other international publishers. In 1950, she created the first baby record book, called Baby Days, A Record Year by Year.

Later Life and Legacy

In 1967, Ivy's husband died suddenly. Ivy was heartbroken. She closed her studio because she was too sad to continue something that meant so much to both of them.

However, in 1994, fans who had grown up with Pookie started writing to her. They wanted to share Pookie with their own children. This encouraged Ivy and her daughters to relaunch Pookie Productions Ltd. They republished her books, and once again, they became international bestsellers.

The Animal Shelf was turned into an animated TV series. It was made by the award-winning Cosgrove Hall Films. The show was nominated for a Children's BAFTA award. It ran for 52 episodes and was shown in over 50 countries. In 1997, Ivy was featured in a BBC Scotland documentary called “Pookie Flies Again.”

An exhibition about her life and work, called 'The Magical World of Pookie and The Animal Shelf,' toured the UK from 1997 to 2000. Ivy retired at 85 years old. She enjoyed spending time with her family and dogs. She also loved taking care of her garden. She lived in her home near Biggar until 2002. Then, she moved to Auchlochan Garden Village, where she passed away peacefully in her sleep at 90 years old.

Today, Pookie Productions Ltd holds the copyright for Ivy Wallace's work. They also handle licensing for the Pookie and The Animal Shelf series. Old copies of Ivy's books, as well as newer editions, are now highly sought after by collectors.

Ivy Wallace's Books

Pookie Series

• Pookie (1946)
• Pookie and the Gypsies (1947)
• Pookie Puts the World Right (1949)
• Pookie in Search of a Home (1951)
• Pookie believes in Santa Claus (1953)
• Pookie at the Seaside (1956)
• Pookie's Big Day (1958)
• Pookie and the Swallows (1961)
• Pookie in Wonderland (1963)
• Pookie and his Shop (1966)

Animal Shelf Series

• Stripey to the Rescue (1948)
• Kinker visits the Animal Shelf (1948)
• Woeful and the Waspberries (1948)
• Getup Crusoe (1948)
• The Huge Adventure of Little Mut (1949)
• Gumpa and the Paint Box (1949)
• The Treasure Hunt (1951)

Young Warrenders Series

• The Young Warrenders (1961)
• Thanks to Peculiar (1962)
• Strangers at Warrender's Halt (1963)
• The Snake Ring Mystery (1966)

Other Books

• Baby Days (1950)
• The Kitty-poosies (1951)
• My Book of Kittens and Puppies