Blake was educated at Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School. His English teacher, JH Walsh, influenced his ambition to become involved in literature. His first published drawing was for the satirical magazine Punch, at the age of 16. He read English Literature at Downing College, Cambridge (1953-6), received his postgraduate teaching diploma from the University of London, and later studied at the Chelsea School of Art. He gained another teaching diploma at the Institute of Education before working at the Royal College of Art.

Can you plan an investigation to find the best surface for scooting / sliding on? Which one has the most / least friction? Octagon Lunchtime Tappers Octagon Lunchtime Tappers & THUMKA: Bollywood Dance Octagon Lunchtime Tappers & THUMKA: Bollywood Dance & Plus1 more... Octagon Lunchtime Tappers & THUMKA: Bollywood Dance & Plus1 more... & Plus2 more... Mr Magnolia’s owls are learning to hoot. Think about the sounds that different animals make. Why do they make different sounds? Somerset Youth Dance Tinys Somerset Youth Dance Tinys & Somerset Youth Dance Juniors Somerset Youth Dance Tinys & Somerset Youth Dance Juniors & Plus1 more... Somerset Youth Dance Tinys & Somerset Youth Dance Juniors & Plus1 more... & Plus2 more...

Mustard, Custard, Grumble Belly and Gravy

A wonderful rhyming tale about Mister Magnolia, a man with a trumpet that goes rooty-toot (but only one boot)! This is a story about a man with only one boot. He's got a lot of friends and one day when this little girl came around he found a blue boot. I enjoyed this book because i like rhyming stories and it was quite a funny story. He has an old trumpet that goes rooty- toot.And two lovely sisters who play on the flute.But Mr. Magnolia has only one boot. Read the story aloud, talking together about the pictures as you do. Encourage children to guess what the rhyming word will be by leaving space for them to join in. They can find clues in the pictures, too. Join in

Find out about the author / illustrator, Quentin Blake. What other illustrations has he drawn? Can you try to create a picture in a similar style / using similar techniques? Watch these videos for some ideas: But one day, he receives a mysterious parcel, and at last Mr. Magnolia can splash in the puddles with everyone else. Quentin Blake was born in 1932 and read English at Cambridge, before attending Chelsea Art College. He has won many major prizes for illustration, including the Kate Greenaway Medal (1980) and the Red House Children's Book Award (1981) for Mister Magnolia. He is also the winner of the Hans Christian Andersen Award for Illustration and in 1990 was voted 'The Illustrator's Illustrator' by Observer Magazine. A tireless promoter of children's literature – and a long-time collaborator with roald Dahl – Quentin Blake was awarded the OBE in 1988 and in 2005 he was awarded a CBE for services to Children's Literature. In the most recent New Year’s Honours list he has been knighted. Somerset Youth Dance Tinys Somerset Youth Dance Tinys & Somerset Youth Dance Juniors Somerset Youth Dance Tinys & Somerset Youth Dance Juniors & Plus1 more...

Engage children with digital learning

Science: Think about the pond habitat in Mr Magnolia’s garden. What other creatures might live there? Can you plan an investigation to find the best surface for scooting/sliding on? Which has the most/least friction?

See if you can make up a new story about Mr Magnolia together. Perhaps beginning ‘ Mr Magnolia had only one shoe….’You can play with the rhyme, taking it in turns to invent a new line. Go on a word hunt to see how many words rhyme with ‘boot.’ Read it aloud together and listen for the rhyme. Make a gameQuentin Blake has been drawing ever since he can remember. He taught illustration for over twenty years at the Royal College of Art, of which he is an honorary professor. He has won many prizes, including the Hans Christian Andersen Award for Illustration, the Eleanor Farjeon Award and the Kate Greenaway Medal, and in 1999 he was appointed the first Children’s Laureate. In the 2013 New Year’s Honours List he was knighted for services to illustration.