Mini Grey facts for kids
Mini Grey is a talented British artist who writes and illustrates books for children. She is especially known for her fun picture books. In 2006, she won a big award called the Kate Greenaway Medal for her book The Adventures of the Dish and the Spoon. This award is given to the best-illustrated children's book in the UK.
One of her most popular books is Traction Man is Here. It's about the exciting adventures of a boy's action figure around the house. This book was first published in 2005.
Contents
About Mini Grey
Mini Grey was born in a very interesting place: inside a Mini car! This happened in Newport, Wales, a city in southern Wales. Her unique nickname, Mini, comes from the car model she was born in. She grew up in a place called Taplow, in England.
As of 2025, Mini Grey lives in Oxford. She shares her home with her partner, Tony, and her adult son.
Mini Grey's Career
Mini Grey has always been creative. For a school project, she once made a cool pop-up book version of Gulliver's Travels. This shows how imaginative she was from a young age!
She has created many popular books, both as an author and an illustrator.
Popular Books by Mini Grey
- Egg Drop (2002): This book tells the story of an egg that really wants to fly. It's a fun tale about chasing dreams, even if they seem impossible for an egg!
- The Pea and the Princess (2003): This is a new version of the classic fairy tale, but told from the point of view of the tiny pea! It's a clever and funny twist on a well-known story.
- Biscuit Bear (2004): This book is about a special biscuit bear. In the US, it's known as Ginger Bear.
- Traction Man series:
- Traction Man is Here (2005)
- Traction Man Meets Turbo Dog (2008)
- Traction Man and the Beach Odyssey (2011)
These books follow the exciting adventures of Traction Man, a boy's action figure, and his loyal sidekick, Scrubbing Brush. They go on many daring missions!
- The Adventures of the Dish and the Spoon (2006): This book won the Kate Greenaway Medal. It's a creative story that brings familiar nursery rhyme characters to life.
Books by Mini Grey
Mini Grey has written and illustrated many books. Most of her books are published by Jonathan Cape in the UK and Alfred A. Knopf in the US.
As Author and Illustrator
- Egg Drop (2002)
- The Pea and the Princess (2003)
- Biscuit Bear (2004)
- Traction Man is Here (2005)
- The Adventures of the Dish and the Spoon (2006)
- Traction Man Meets Turbo Dog (2008)
- Three by the Sea (2010)
- Traction Man and the Beach Odyssey (2011)
- Toys in Space (2013)
- Hermelin: The Detective Mouse (2015)
- Space Dog (2015)
- The Bad Bunnies' Magic Show (2017)
- The Last Wolf (2019)
- The Greatest Show on Earth (2022)
As Illustrator Only
Mini Grey has also illustrated books written by other authors.
- The Crocodile is Coming! (2005)
- Into the Woods (2006), by Lyn Gardner
- The Twin Giants (2007), by Dick King-Smith
- Jim, Who Ran Away from His Nurse, and Was Eaten by a Lion (2009), a movable book version of a poem by Hilaire Belloc
- Out of the Woods (2010), by Lyn Gardner
- Pippi Longstocking (2020), by Astrid Lindgren
- Pippi Longstocking in the South Seas (2020), by Astrid Lindgren
- Pippi Longstocking Goes Aboard (2020), by Astrid Lindgren
- Emil and the Sneaky Rat (2020), by Astrid Lindgren
- Emil's Clever Pig (2020), by Astrid Lindgren
- The Book of Not Entirely Useful Advice (2020), by A.F. Harrold
- Lotta Makes a Mess (2020), by Astrid Lindgren
- Lotta Says 'No!' (2020), by Astrid Lindgren
- Karlsson on the Roof (2021), by Astrid Lindgren
- Karlsson Flies Again (2021), by Astrid Lindgren
- The Children of Noisy Village (2021), by Astrid Lindgren
- Nothing but Fun in Noisy Village (2021), by Astrid Lindgren
- Happy Times in Noisy Village (2021), by Astrid Lindgren
- Money-Go-Round (2021), by Roger McGough
Awards and Recognitions
Mini Grey has won several important awards for her amazing books.
Awards Won
- 2004: Her book Biscuit Bear won the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize in the 6–8 years age group.
- 2005: Traction Man is Here won the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Picture Books.
- 2007: The Adventures of the Dish and the Spoon won the prestigious Kate Greenaway Medal.
Other Recognitions
Her books have also been recognized as finalists or runners-up for other awards:
- 2003: The Pea and the Princess was shortlisted for the Greenaway Medal.
- 2005: Biscuit Bear was shortlisted for the Blue Peter Book Award.
- Traction Man is Here was shortlisted for the Greenaway Medal (2005), the Blue Peter Book Award (2006), and the Hampshire Illustrated Book Award (2007).
- 2006: The Adventures of the Dish and the Spoon was a bronze runner-up for the Smarties Prize in the 0–5 years age group.
- 2011: Jim, Who Ran Away from His Nurse, and Was Eaten by a Lion was shortlisted for the Greenaway Medal.
