The books illustrations are undoubtedly fantastic, Blake’s instantly recognisable graphics have been loved for generations, however, I do believe that it is this that initially attracts the reader to the book rather than his reputation as an author. Blake’s graphics have been coupled with the work of Roald Dahl for many years, Blake is not as talented as Dahl and I think that he is using Dahls success for his own literary career. I finished the book feeling disappointed; I did not think that the story was as entertaining or as imaginative as Dahls work and because of the association with Dahl I had initial expectations. He has illustrated nearly 300 books, and is known for his collaboration with writers such as Russell Hoban, Joan Aiken and Michael Rosen. He is the major illustrator for Roald Dahl books, including The BFG, The Witches, Matilda and Esio Trot, all of which have won major prizes. Dean is played by Joe Armstrong, a 44-year-old English actor known for Robin Hood and Happy Valley. Jacqui is played by Claire Goose, a 48-year-old British actress who played Tina Seabrook in Casualty.

Blake is beyond brilliant . . . I've never met a child who doesn't love Quentin Blake" - Daily Telegraph He was awarded an OBE in 1988, and a CBE in 2005, for services to Children's Literature. In 1990, he was voted "The Illustrator's Illustrator" by Observer Magazine and in 1999, was appointed the first ever Children's Laureate, a post designed to raise the profile of children's literature. He has also won the Hans Christian Andersen Award for Illustration. Blake was knighted in the 2013 New Year Honours for his services to illustration. In March 2014 he was awarded the insignia of Chevalier of the Légion d'honneur at a ceremony at the Institut Français in LondonBlake’s dynamic pen strokes typically create odd, unruly characters, almost always seen in concert with children, rendering them in a sprightly manner. As Sue Hubbard, an art critic writing in The Independent, has observed: ‘His drawing is wonderfully free and playful, the colour bleeding with carefree abandon over the ink outlines to give a sense of movement and vitality’. He is now one of Britain’s most popular artists, and so recognizable have Blake’s illustrations become, that his gently anarchic images have spread to greetings cards. In 1999 he was appointed the first Children’s Laureate, and his achievement has recently been marked by a major retrospective exhibition: ‘Quentin Blake: Fifty Years of Illustration’, held at Somerset House in London in 2004. His work was also a major part of the British Council's 'Magic Pencil' Exhibition which began touring the world in 2002, and there are apparently future plans for a Quentin Blake Gallery. Without dialogue, it has the purity of a silent film, creating movement and telling its delightful story entirely through pictures. After being thrown out with other toys, a clown doll flips itself out of a trashcan, joins a fancy dress parade, is chased by a dog, and is then thrown accidentally into a poor high-rise apartment. There his antics help to quiet a crying child, and he helps the harassed babysitter to tidy the apartment. Then they all go out into the city, against a vivid red sky and grey city buildings, and retrieve the others. By the time the child’s mother comes home, the clown has become a loved toy again. Characteristically, the book also conveys an underlying moral theme, about rejection and connectedness. Viewers may have also seen him in The Village, and he is known for his stage roles including The Empire. The letter reveals that Uncle Cosmo has given her a car as a present and it is parked outside her house in the street. The pair go to investigate, but Mrs Armitage is not impressed by the old car, but they decide to take it for a drive anyway.

Breakspear," said Mrs. Armitage, "I think it is time for us to get out of this town." They went down a side road into the country. All around then were trees, and the birds were singing."

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. He was born in 1932, reading English at Cambridge, then studying teaching at the University of London, and life classes at Chelsea Art School. He has always made his living as an illustrator, as well as teaching for over twenty years at The Royal College of Art, where he was head of the Illustration department from 1978 to 1986. His first drawings were published in Punch at the age of sixteen, and he continued to draw for Punch, The Spectator and other magazines for many years, while entering the world of children's books with his first book as an illustrator, A Drink of Water and Other Stories by John Yeoman, in 1960. He played Owen Armstrong in Coronation Street and is also known for his roles in Pennyworth, Tin Star and Marcella. Sharon Haworth - Sophie Craig