Joanne Cole facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joanne Cole
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| Born | 6 June 1934 |
| Died | 7 August 1985 (aged 51) |
| Occupation | Artist / Illustrator |
| Nationality | British |
| Genre | Children's books and TV |
| Notable works | Bod, Fingerbobs, Gran |
| Spouse | Michael Cole |
| Children | 4 |
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Joanne Cole (1934–1985) was a talented British artist and illustrator. She was well-known for creating many children's books from the 1960s to the 1980s. She also designed artwork and puppets for popular British TV shows for kids. Joanne worked closely with her husband, Michael Cole, to bring many beloved characters and stories to life.
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Her Creative Journey
Joanne Cole created many wonderful stories and characters that children loved. She often worked with her husband, Michael Cole, who was also a writer.
The World of Bod
One of Joanne Cole's most famous creations was Bod. This character first appeared in four books published in the UK in 1965. Later, these books were also released in France and the United States.
In 1975, the original Bod books became a popular BBC children's TV show. The Bod stories were turned into short, five-minute films. These films were animated by Alan Rogers, using Joanne Cole's original drawings. The stories were narrated by John Le Mesurier, and Derek Griffiths created the music.
The rest of the Bod TV programme included more of Joanne Cole's illustrations. It featured fun games like Bod snap, songs, and stories about Alberto Frog and his Amazing Animal Band. This part of the show was narrated by Maggie Henderson. Bod was shown on BBC until 1984. It was also popular in many other countries, including Australia, New Zealand, and parts of Europe. In the United States, Bod was part of the Pinwheel show on Nickelodeon.
The TV series had 13 episodes, including nine new Bod adventures. These new stories were also published as books in 1977, with illustrations by Joanne Cole.
Other Wonderful Books
Joanne and Michael Cole worked together on other children's books too.
- Wet Albert (1967) was a story about a boy who was always followed by a rain cloud. Joanne Cole drew the crayon illustrations for this book.
- They also created a series of four Kate and Sam books in 1971. These books were about the imaginative ideas of a young brother and sister.
Joanne Cole also illustrated seven books by another author, Jill Tomlinson. One of these popular books was The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark (1973).
Bringing Stories to TV
Joanne Cole's artistic talents weren't just for books; she also created amazing things for television.
Finger Puppets and Friends
In 1972, the Coles created the BBC children's TV show Fingerbobs. This show starred Rick Jones and featured the adventures of finger puppets made by Joanne Cole. The main character was a paper mouse and his friends.
Award-Winning Shows
In 1973, Joanne Cole created puppets and artwork for another BBC children's programme called Ragtime. This show was very successful and won a Society of Film and Television Award in 1973 for Best Children's Programme. This award is now known as a BAFTA. A second series of Ragtime followed due to its popularity.
Gran's Surprising Tales
In 1982, Joanne Cole co-wrote the BBC children's programme Gran with her husband. This show told the surprising tales of a grandmother. The stories were later turned into books, which Joanne Cole illustrated. The TV show was animated by Ivor Wood and narrated by Patricia Hayes.
Regular TV Contributions
Joanne Cole also regularly provided artwork for other well-known children's TV shows. These included ITV's Rainbow and BBC's Play School.
Legacy
Sadly, Joanne Cole passed away in 1985 when she was 51 years old. In the same year, her husband, Michael Cole, wrote and produced Fingermouse. This was a musical version of Fingerbobs and featured the paper puppets that Joanne Cole had made. Her creative work continues to be enjoyed by children today.
