Philippa Pearce facts for kids

Ann Philippa Pearce (born January 22, 1920, died December 21, 2006) was a famous English writer. She wrote many wonderful books for children. Her most well-known book is Tom's Midnight Garden. This fantasy story involves a special kind of time travel called "time-slip."

In 1958, Tom's Midnight Garden won the Carnegie Medal. This award is given to the best children's book by a British author each year. Philippa Pearce was also recognized as a runner-up for this award four other times.

Growing Up and Early Career

Philippa Pearce was the youngest of four children. She grew up in a village called Great Shelford in Cambridgeshire, England. Her family lived in the Mill House, right by the River Cam.

She started school a bit later, at age eight, because she was ill. Later, she went to the Perse School for Girls in Cambridge. She even won a scholarship to Girton College, Cambridge. There, she studied English and History.

After college, Pearce moved to London. She worked for the government for a while. Then, she joined the BBC, where she created radio shows for schools for 13 years. She also worked as an editor for children's books. She was at Oxford University Press and then André Deutsch publishing firms.

Becoming a Writer

Philippa Pearce began her writing career after a long stay in the hospital. She was recovering from an illness. During this time, she thought about a canoe trip she had taken years before. This memory inspired her first book.

First Book: Minnow on the Say

Her first novel was Minnow on the Say. It was published in 1955. This book was also a runner-up for the Carnegie Medal. Like many of her books, it was inspired by the area where she grew up. The real villages of Great and Little Shelford became Great and Little Barley in her story. The River Cam became the River Say.

Minnow on the Say was later made into a TV series in Canada in 1960. It was also adapted for British television in 1972.

Her Most Famous Book: Tom's Midnight Garden

Pearce's second book, Tom's Midnight Garden, came out in 1958. The "midnight garden" in the story was based on the garden of the Mill House. This was the house where Pearce lived as a child.

This book became a classic "time-slip" story for children. It means characters can travel through time, often without realizing it. Tom's Midnight Garden has inspired a film, a stage play, and three TV series. It won the Carnegie Medal, as mentioned earlier. In 2007, it was voted the second favorite Carnegie Medal-winning book of all time by the public.

Other Notable Works

Philippa Pearce wrote over 30 books in total. Some of her other well-known titles include:

• A Dog So Small (1962)
• The Squirrel Wife (1971)
• The Battle of Bubble and Squeak (1978)
• The Way To Sattin Shore (1983)

The Shadow Cage and other tales of the supernatural, Bubble and Squeak, and Sattin Shore were all recognized as Carnegie Medal runners-up. The Battle of Bubble and Squeak was even made into a two-part TV show.

Pearce continued to write short stories and edit other books. She also spoke at conferences. In 2004, she published her first new full-length book in 20 years, called The Little Gentleman. Another children's novel, A Finder's Magic, was published after she passed away in 2008.

Personal Life

Philippa Pearce married Martin Christie in 1962. They had one daughter, Sally Christie, who also became a children's author. Martin Christie passed away in 1964.

From 1973 until her death in 2006, Philippa Pearce lived back in Great Shelford. This was the same village where she grew up. She passed away due to complications from a stroke.

Legacy

Philippa Pearce's work continues to be celebrated. Since 2008, the Philippa Pearce Lecture is held every September. This event takes place at Homerton College, Cambridge. It celebrates excellent writing for children and highlights its importance. Famous children's authors, scholars, and critics give these lectures.

Selected Books

• Minnow on the Say, illustrated by Edward Ardizzone (1955); US title, The Minnow Leads to Treasure
• Tom's Midnight Garden, illustrated by Susan Einzig (1958)
• A Dog So Small (1962)
• The Children of Charlecote (1968)
• The Squirrel Wife, illustrated by Derek Collard (1971)
• What the Neighbours Did and Other Stories, illustrated by Faith Jaques, (1972)
• The Shadow Cage and Other Tales of the Supernatural (1977)
• The Battle of Bubble and Squeak (1978)
• The Way to Sattin Shore (1983)
• The Little Gentleman, illustrated by Patrick Benson (2004); US ed., illustrated by Tom Pohrt
• A Finder's Magic (2008)

• Philippa Pearce profile on Great Shelford website where she was born and bred