Debi Gliori was born and went to school in Glasgow. She then studied design and illustration at Edinburgh College of Art followed by a postgraduate year in illustration, winning an Andrew Grant travelling scholarship to travel to Milan.

Since becoming a full time writer and illustrator, Debi has worked on many children's books and created the charismatic Mr Bear character for Orchard Books. Mr Bear Babysits was Debi's first book, which enjoyed phenomenal success, and was followed by Mr Bear's Picnic and Mr Bear to the Rescue, which was shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway Prize and won the picture book category of the Children's Book Award. All three titles were awarded a Gold award in the Petit Filous Best Toy Awards. Mr Bear Says Goodnight was so successful it was chosen for the Bookstart project. Debi's newest characters The Rabbit-Bunn family starring little Flora follow in the footsteps of Mr Bear with two titles Flora's Blanket and Flora's Flowers already receiving rave reviews. 2007 sees the return of the ever-popular Mr Bear - this time in board book format! With large bright pictures and simple rhyming text, Mr Bear Says I Love You, A Spoonful for You, Tickly Under There and Can I Have a Hug? are the perfect board books for sharing with babies and toddlers, featuring familiar everyday images.

Debi lives just outside Edinburgh with her massive family.

"Delightful and heartfelt, illustrated with wit and sympathy." - The Scotsman on Mr Bear

"Debi Gliori has a deep wit and understanding of family life. And a captivating way of presenting it for very young children." - The Bookseller

Questions and Answers

What are your favourite children's books?
The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Gouge and Five Children and It by E. Nesbit.

What famous person would you like to meet and why?
Maurice Sendak the writer and illustrator. I'd love to spend time in his studio talking about his life and work and John Diamond the writer and broadcaster (alas, died last year) because his unvarnished humanity and black humour in the face of illness was totally inspirational and made we wish I'd known him.

What is your perfect sandwich?
Cold roast chicken, lemon mayonnaise and as much rocket as can decently be squeezed between the covers of a foccaccia roll .. mhmmm, it must be lunchtime.

What kind of animal would you be and why?
A phoenix, so that I could keep coming back.

What is your earliest childhood memory?
Dropping spitballs over the bars of my cot. Sorry, this is a tad gross, no?

Bibliography

Picture Books Flora's Blanket Flora's Flowers Mr Bear Babysits Mr Bear's Holiday Mr Bear's New Baby Mr Bear's Picnic Mr Bear Says a Little Hush, Please Mr Bear Says Are You There Baby Bear? Mr Bear Says Can I Have a Hug? Mr Bear Says Let's Go Outside Mr Bear Says Tickly Under There Mr Bear to the Rescue Where, oh Where, is Baby Bear?

Mr Bear Babysits - New Edition Mr Bear's Holiday - New Edition (Dec 08) Mr Bear's New Baby - New Edition (Dec 08) Mr Bear's Picnic - New Edition (May 07) Mr Bear to the Rescue - New Edition (Feb 07)   Board Books Flora's Blanket Mr Bear Says Can I Have a Hug? Mr Bear Says I Love You Mr Bear Says A Spoonfull for You Mr Bear Says Tickly Under There

Copyright © 2006: The Watts Publishing Group.