Mini Grey

Life and work

Mini Grey was born in a Mini car in Newport, a city in southern Wales. She uses only her nickname, after the automobile model. She was raised in Taplow, Buckinghamshire, England.

As of 2007 she lives in Oxford with her partner Tony and a baby son.

Career

As a professional school project Grey created a pop-up version of Gulliver's Travels.

Egg Drop (Cape, 2002; Knopf, 2009) – Egg Drop at WorldCat

"... Presents the story of the Egg that wanted to fly.""The egg has always dreamed of being able to fly, but it doesn't really know much about making the dream a reality. The only method that seems guaranteed to work is to get to a very high place and then jump. Not a good idea for an egg."inspired by Humpty Dumpty

The Pea and the Princess (Cape, 2003); US title, The Very Smart Pea and the Princess-to-be (Knopf, 2003)

'Once upon a time there was an enchanting fairytale about a prince who was looking for a real princess to be his bride. This is a reworking of the classic fairytale told from the point of view of the pea.' --The Princess and the Pea in libraries (WorldCat catalog)'The pea gives its own version of what happened in the fairy tale, "The Princess and the Pea", from the time of its birth in the Palace Garden until it helps arrange a royal marriage.' --The very smart pea ... in libraries (WorldCat catalog), first US edition

Biscuit Bear (Cape, 2004); US title, Ginger Bear (Knopf, 2007) – Biscuit Bear/ Ginger Bear at WorldCat

Traction Man

Traction Man is Here (2005)

Traction Man Meets Turbo Dog (2008)

Traction Man and the Beach Odyssey (2011; Knopf, 2012)

adventures of Traction Man, a boy's action figures, and his sidekick Scrubbing Brush

The Adventures of the Dish and the Spoon (2006; Cape, Knopf) – The Adventures at WorldCat

As author and illustrator

All these books have been published by Jonathan Cape in the UK and by the Random House imprint Alfred A. Knopf in the US Where one date is given, the American edition appeared in the same calendar year.

Egg Drop (2002; US 2009)

The Pea and the Princess (2003); US title, The Very Smart Pea and the Princess-to-be

Biscuit Bear (2004); US title, Ginger Bear (2007)

Traction Man is Here (2005)

The Adventures of the Dish and the Spoon (2006)

Traction Man Meets Turbo Dog (2008)

Three by the Sea (2010)

Traction Man and the Beach Odyssey (2011; 2012)

Toys in Space (US edition: Alfred A. Knopf, 2013) —forthcoming

As illustrator only

The Crocodile is Coming! (2005)

Into the Woods (2006), by Lyn Gardner —400-page fantasy novel

The Twin Giants (2007), by Dick King-Smith —a picture book

Jim, Who Ran Away from His Nurse, and Was Eaten by a Lion (2009)

—movable book edition of the poem by Hilaire Belloc (1870–1953)

Out of the Woods (2010), by Lyn Gardner —350-page sequel to Into the Woods

Awards

Grey has won three annual book awards.

Biscuit Bear won the 2004 Nestlé Smarties Book Prize, ages category 6–8 years

Traction Man is Here won the 2005 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award, Picture Book

The Adventures of the Dish and the Spoon won the 2007 Kate Greenaway Medal

Runners up, etc.

The Pea and the Princess made the 2003 Greenaway Medal shortlist

Biscuit Bear made the 2005 Blue Peter Book Award shortlist

Traction Man is Here made the 2005 Greenaway shortlist, the 2006 Blue Peter shortlist, and the 2007 Hampshire Illustrated Book Award shortlist

The Adventures of the Dish and the Spoon was bronze runner up for the 2006 Smarties Prize, ages 0–5 years

Jim, Who Ran Away from His Nurse, and Was Eaten by a Lion made the 2011 Greenaway shortlist