Words and pictures merge seamlessly in these simply devised books. Shirley Hughes, now 78, wrote and illustrated her first Alfie book in 1981. Twenty years on, Alfie and Annie Rose are still respectively four and one-and-a-half years old but show no sign at all of dating.

Although it is 30 years since Alfie was first brought to life in Shirley Hughes’ intricately illustrated stories, he has lost none of his appeal and still delights with his unique and charming child’s-eye view of the world which makes the ordinary seem extraordinary.Alfie and Bernard are very best friends and together they have lots of adventures. Join them as they go to the library, take part in scooter races and make a very special club with only two special members! A heart-warming tale of friendship by the a...

Alfie is excited when he is invited to Bernard's birthday party, though he feels a bit nervous about going on his own. But Alfie has such a great time that he finds he doesn't even need his special blanket -- and he makes a new friend too!...Join Alfie and Dad as they spend time together in this wonderful collection of stories from the award-winning Shirley Hughes. Alfie's dad is always there for Alfie and Annie Rose. He's there to reassure Alfie during a restless night; he's there to fi... Meet Alfie's mum. She has reddish brown curly hair which often gets untidy, but Alfie likes it like that. Alfie and Mum love to tell stories together, to explore and have adventures -- over fields, across streams, and even into big dark houses! Bu... Splish, splash, splosh! Stamp, stamp, stamp! Alfie's brand new yellow rain boots are perfect for splashing through puddles and stamping in mud. But something about them doesn't feel quite right. Whatever could it be? He's got them on the wrong feet!... Part of what makes Hughes’ stories so wonderful are the vivid illustrations that accompany her narratives. Before she began writing stories of her own, Hughes started out as an illustrator, working with other children’s authors such as Noel Streatfield and Dorothy Edwards for the My Naughty Little Sister series, another popular set of stories in my childhood. Throughout her career, she illustrated over 200 books. Hughes illustrations are captivating and iconic, instantly recognisable to those who know her work.

Young children are able to find the extraordinary in every day ordinary scenes, like losing a beloved stuffed animal, helping your baby sister eat with her spoon, and going to a friend's birthday party. Alfie and Grandma are very special friends, and together they have lots of adventures! Whether it's saving the day and finding a lost pet, or explor... I realised just how discernable Hughes’ work is whilst writing this after I looked up another family favourite, A Throne for Sesame , which I believed to have been written by Hughes thanks to her iconic illustrations. The book was actually written by Helen Young. Hughes was featured on the BBC show “Read All About It” in 1978 , just after Dogger was published. In her interview, she discusses how all her stories begin with the illustrations. She says she “thinks visually,” and the words come afterwards “like the captions of a silent movie.” Even for those who cannot read, the brilliance of Hughes’ illustrations provide all the information a child may need to understand a rough storyline. I've been trying to put my finger on why I love Shirley Hughes's Alfie books so much. Why should the everyday tales of a four-year-old boy and his toddler sister Annie Rose so lift my spirits - as well as those of my two young children - at the end of a dog-tiring day?

As a child, Hughes’ books were a part of my nighttime reading from as early as I can remember. Dogger was a particular favourite in our household, with myself and my siblings able to relate to the attachment to a much loved soft toy, and understanding Dave’s feelings when Dogger goes missing. The book’s success has been global , with it proving popular despite it being very “English” as far the story and the setting go (a large portion of the book is spent at a jumble sale). But, the universality of losing something dear to you appeals to a worldwide audience, making Dogger Hughes’ most successful book. In a brand new collection of stories and poems, Alfie has a spooky late-night adventure with an owl and introduces us to his secret den in the garden.