Ursula Moray Williams facts for kids

Ursula Moray Williams (born April 19, 1911 – died October 17, 2006) was a famous English author who wrote almost 70 books for children. One of her most loved books, Adventures of the Little Wooden Horse, was published in 1939. It stayed popular and in print throughout her whole life!

Ursula's classic stories often feature brave characters. These characters usually face challenges and difficulties in the world. But they always find a loving home in the end. Some of her other well-known books include The Good Little Christmas Tree from 1943. Another big hit was Gobbolino, the Witch's Cat, first released in 1942. This book sold out right away! It became a huge best-seller when it was re-released years later.

About Ursula's Life

Ursula Williams was born in Petersfield, Hampshire, England. She was a twin, born just ten minutes after her sister, Barbara Árnason. Both sisters were very artistic and loved to draw and write. From age ten, they would create and illustrate books for each other's birthdays and Christmas gifts.

Growing Up and Adventures

Both Ursula and Barbara were enthusiastic Girl Guides. They even attended some of the very first camps for the movement. Some of Ursula's early books were actually stories she first told to her own Brownie group! The girls also loved riding horses. At first, they rode hobby horses. To save money for a real pony, they raised goats. They sold the goat's milk, even though they didn't like drinking it themselves!

Their uncle, Stanley Unwin, was a publisher. Thanks to him, the twins got to visit the beautiful Alps mountains. These trips later inspired some of Ursula's most exciting writing. This includes a series of three books that started with The Three Toymakers. The last book in this series, The Toymaker's Daughter, was one of her most special stories.

A Special House and Inspiration

However, Ursula's biggest source of ideas came from the amazing house where she grew up. It was called North Stoneham House. This was a large, old mansion located in a woodland area north of Southampton. Many events from her unique childhood often appeared in her stories. North Stoneham House is described in detail in her 1941 book, A Castle for John-Peter. It also appears in the pictures for Grandpapa's Folly and the Woodworm-Bookworm from 1974. Ursula's own life was as interesting and inspiring as the lives of her fictional heroes!

Ursula was good friends with Kaye Webb, who was an editor at Puffin Books. She helped organize fun parties for the Puffin Club. Ursula was even made the first honorary member of the club! She also worked with talented artists who drew pictures for her books. These included Shirley Hughes, Faith Jaques, and Edward Ardizzone.

Later Life and Resilience

Later in her career, Ursula often wrote about children who were a bit mischievous but had good hearts. This was influenced by her work as a juvenile magistrate. A magistrate is like a judge for young people. She was also a very involved school governor. In her local community, people admired her for her many kind actions. She also had a strong Christian faith.

Ursula faced many personal challenges. These included family difficulties and the loss of her husband. She also had health problems, including losing an eye and nearly dying from cancer. But she was incredibly strong and kept writing until she was 80 years old! She had the longest publishing career of any children's writer from her time.

Ursula married Conrad Southey "Peter" John in 1935. They lived in different places before settling in Worcestershire in 1945. Peter passed away in 1971. They had four sons, and three of them were still alive when Ursula died in 2006. She passed away in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire.

Many of Ursula Williams' original writings and letters are kept at Seven Stories. This is a special center for children's books in Newcastle. In April 2011, an exhibition opened in Winchester. It celebrated 100 years since Ursula's birth.

Ursula's Books

• 1931 Jean-Pierre
• 1932 For Brownies: Stories and Games for the Pack and Everybody Else
• 1933 Grandfather
• 1933 The Pettabomination
• 1933 The Autumn Sweepers and Other Plays
• 1934 Kelpie, the Gipsies' Pony (Harrap), illustrated by Ursula and Barbara Moray Williams,
• 1934 More for Brownies
• 1935 Anders & Marta
• 1935 Adventures of Anne
• 1936 Tales for the Sixes and Sevens
• 1936 Sandy on the Shore
• 1936 The Twins and Their Ponies
• 1937 The Adventures of Boss and Dingbatt, as by Ursula John, photos by Conrad Southey John,
• 1937 Elaine of La Signe
• 1937 Dumpling
• 1938 Adventures of the Little Wooden Horse
• 1939 Peter and the Wanderlust; later called Peter on the Road
• 1939 Adventures of Puffin
• 1940 Pretenders; Island
• 1941 A Castle for John-Peter
• 1942 Gobbolino, the Witch's Cat
• 1943 The Good Little Christmas Tree
• 1946 The Three Toymakers
• 1946 The House of Happiness
• 1948 Malkin's Mountain – sequel to The Three Toymakers
• 1948 The Story of Laughing Dandino
• 1951 The Binklebys at Home
• 1951 Jockin the Jester – historical fiction
• 1953 The Binklebys on the Farm
• 1955 Grumpa
• 1955 Secrets of the Wood
• 1956 Goodbody's Puppet Show
• 1957 Golden Horse with a Silver Tail
• 1958 Hobbie
• 1958 The Moonball
• 1959 The Noble Hawks; U.S. title: The Earl's Falconer – historical fiction
• 1959 The Nine Lives of Island MacKenzie
• 1963 Beware of This Animal
• 1964 Johnnie Tigerskin
• 1964 O for a Mouseless House
• 1965 High Adventure
• 1967 The Cruise of the Happy-Go-Gay
• 1968 A Crown for a Queen
• 1968 The Toymaker's Daughter – sequel to The Three Toymakers
• 1969 Mog
• 1970 Boy in a Barn
• 1970 Johnnie Golightly and his Crocodile
• 1970 The Three Toymakers
• 1971 Hurricanes – four volumes of short stories for backward readers
• 1972 A Picnic with the Aunts
• 1972 Castle Merlin
• 1972 The Kidnapping of My Grandmother
• 1972 Children's Parties (and Games for a Rainy Day)
• 1973 Tiger Nanny
• 1973 The Line
• 1974 Grandpapa's Folly and the Woodworm-Bookworm
• 1975 No Ponies for Miss Pobjoy
• 1978 Bogwoppit
• 1981 Jeffy, The Burglar's Cat
• 1982 Bellabelinda and the No-Good Angel
• 1984 The Further Adventures of Gobbolino and the Little Wooden Horse – sequel
• 1985 Spid
• 1986 Grandma and the Ghowlies
• 1987 Paddy on the Island

• Davison, Colin (2011). Through the Magic Door: Ursula Moray Williams, Gobbolino and the Little Wooden Horse. Northumbria Press.