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The Molly Brett Picture Book
Children's book.
- GenresPicture BooksChildrens
24 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 1979
25 people want to read
About the author
Molly Brett
45 books11 followersMolly (Mary Elizabeth) Brett was an English illustrator and children's author. She grew up in Surrey, Great Britain, [Croydon Registration District] surrounded by animals and nature.
Her mother, Mary Gould Brett, was a respected animal painter who encouraged her daughter to paint from life, and this is reflected in Molly's gift for making her animals look thoroughly naturalistic while giving them human characteristics and activities.
Molly began her art training with a correspondence course in illustration, followed by formal instruction at Press Art School and the Guildford Art School. It was at Guildford that she met Margaret Tarrant (also destined to attain substantial fame as an illustrator), who soon became a close friend and lived with her in Cornwall.
She began her career by illustrating weekly papers for children. One of her earliest commissions was to illustrate stories by Enid Blyton.
Inspired by this, she went on to write and illustrate 21 books of her own for the Medici Society of London, with whom she was associated for 60 years. Medici has published over 500 of her paintings as postcards, greeting cards and prints.
Molly Brett's work has enchanted generations of children with its beautifully drawn details, subtle colours and magical atmosphere. Her work follows in the tradition of other twentieth-century "dressed animal" illustrators such as Beatrix Potter, Margaret Tempest, Racey Helps, and others.
Footnote: The actual date of Molly Brett's death is uncertain but she died in the second quarter of 1990 so April 1 has been included for completeness.
Her mother, Mary Gould Brett, was a respected animal painter who encouraged her daughter to paint from life, and this is reflected in Molly's gift for making her animals look thoroughly naturalistic while giving them human characteristics and activities.
Molly began her art training with a correspondence course in illustration, followed by formal instruction at Press Art School and the Guildford Art School. It was at Guildford that she met Margaret Tarrant (also destined to attain substantial fame as an illustrator), who soon became a close friend and lived with her in Cornwall.
She began her career by illustrating weekly papers for children. One of her earliest commissions was to illustrate stories by Enid Blyton.
Inspired by this, she went on to write and illustrate 21 books of her own for the Medici Society of London, with whom she was associated for 60 years. Medici has published over 500 of her paintings as postcards, greeting cards and prints.
Molly Brett's work has enchanted generations of children with its beautifully drawn details, subtle colours and magical atmosphere. Her work follows in the tradition of other twentieth-century "dressed animal" illustrators such as Beatrix Potter, Margaret Tempest, Racey Helps, and others.
Footnote: The actual date of Molly Brett's death is uncertain but she died in the second quarter of 1990 so April 1 has been included for completeness.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 12, 2018
There isn't really a story here. It's a series of essentially unrelated images with long descriptive captions. I believe the named anthropomorphic animal characters appear in other Brett books. Some of the activities are quite outlandish. These little animals do everything that children and people do and more (a helicopter?!).
February 21, 2022
Alongside The Untidy Little Hedgehog, we also picked up this little art book of Molly Brett's illustrations. Each come with a detailed view of the picture from the artist and take the reader into the magical worth that Brett created for her children's books.
A lot of hedgehogs are features and I particularly liked 'The School Crossing' see above. 3 1/2 stars.
June 24, 2025
A wonderfully written and beautiful illustrated children’s book.
Great short little stories, so easy and quick to read as part of a child’s bedtime routine. Some are more of a description to the image, others are a mini storyline.
Lots of questions to keep the reader engaged (they have to spot things within the illustrations). This also leads into a lot of conversation too which sparks much imagination.
Overall a beautiful book
Great short little stories, so easy and quick to read as part of a child’s bedtime routine. Some are more of a description to the image, others are a mini storyline.
Lots of questions to keep the reader engaged (they have to spot things within the illustrations). This also leads into a lot of conversation too which sparks much imagination.
Overall a beautiful book
October 9, 2020
If you adore animals like I do and grew up with Disney, as I did - her books are a delight!! Being an artists her drawings a wonderful - I've one more of hers to purchase, the set will be complete! Still collecting her postcards, greeting cards and prints.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews