Quentin Blake

Hello! My name is Quentin Blake, and I draw pictures for a living. You might call me a doodler! I was born in England on December 16th, 1932. Ever since I was a little boy, my favorite thing to do was draw. I drew on everything I could find! I just loved making pictures come to life with my pencil. When I was only 16 years old, something very exciting happened. One of my drawings was put in a real magazine for everyone to see. It was a magazine called Punch, and I was so proud to see my art printed on the page. It made me want to keep drawing forever and share my creations with the whole world.

I went to school and learned all sorts of things, but drawing was always what I loved most. In 1960, I got a very special job. I was asked to draw the pictures for my very first children's book! It was called 'A Drink of Water,' and I was so excited to create illustrations that would help tell the story. Have you ever seen my drawings? Some people say they look a bit scratchy and wiggly. I draw that way on purpose! I like my pictures to feel full of energy and movement. I want my characters to look like they are having so much fun that they could jump right off the page and play with you.

One of the best parts of my job was making a very famous friend. His name was Roald Dahl, and he was a wonderful author who wrote incredible stories for children. In 1978, he asked me to work with him on his book, 'The Enormous Crocodile.' We had so much fun working together that we did it again and again! I got to draw the pictures for many of his most famous books, like 'The BFG,' 'Matilda,' and 'The Twits.' It was my job to imagine what his wonderful and wacky characters looked like. I would read his words and then, with my pens and ink, I would bring characters like the giant BFG and clever little Matilda to life for everyone to see.

Over the years, I have had many special moments because of my drawing. In 1999, I was chosen to be the very first Children's Laureate in the United Kingdom. It was an important job where I got to travel and encourage children all over the country to love reading and drawing as much as I do. Then, in 2013, I was given the title 'Sir' by the Queen, which was a great honor. Even now, I still draw every single day because it is what I love to do. My biggest wish is that my pictures make people happy when they see them. I hope that my scribbles and doodles inspire you to pick up a pencil and create your own amazing art, too.