The Troll By Julia Donaldson And David Roberts

Author: Donaldson, Julia
Illustrator: Roberts, David
Price: £35
Publisher: Macmillan, London, UK
Publication Date: 2009
Format: Original pictorial boards, dustwrapper
Condition: Near fine in very good plus dustwrapper
Edition: First edition, first impression

Condition:

First edition with the number ‘1’ in the number line. Original pictorial boards. A near fine, tight, clean copy in very good plus, slightly creased and rubbed dustwrapper.

Julia Donaldson: A Short Biography

Julia Donaldson (born September 16, 1948) is a highly acclaimed British author, best known for her children’s books, which have captivated young readers around the world. Born in Hampstead, London, Julia grew up in a family that valued creativity and storytelling. Her early interest in music and literature led her to study drama and French at the University of Bristol, where she further developed her love for the arts.

Before becoming a full-time author, Donaldson worked as a songwriter for children’s television. Many of her early songs were for the BBC’s Play School and Play Away. This background in music and rhyme is evident in her writing style, which often features rhythmic and rhyming text that makes her books especially engaging for children.

Donaldson’s breakthrough as a children’s author came with the publication of The Gruffalo in 1999, illustrated by Axel Scheffler. The book became an instant classic, winning numerous awards and establishing her as a leading voice in children’s literature. The story’s success led to a long and fruitful partnership with Scheffler, resulting in other beloved titles such as “Room on the Broom”, “Stick Man”, and “The Snail and the Whale”.

Julia Donaldson’s books are known for their playful language, memorable characters, and moral lessons that resonate with both children and adults. Her ability to blend humour, adventure, and heart-warming themes has made her one of the most successful and beloved children’s authors of her generation. Her works have been translated into over 75 languages and have sold millions of copies worldwide.

In addition to her writing, Donaldson has been an active advocate for literacy and children’s education. She served as the UK’s Children’s Laureate from 2011 to 2013, during which time she championed initiatives to promote reading among children and support libraries. Her contributions to literature and education have been widely recognised, earning her numerous awards and honours, including an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in 2011 for services to literature.

Julia Donaldson continues to write, perform, and inspire, with her work remaining a cherished part of childhood for countless readers around the world.

David Roberts: A Short Biography

Early Life & Education

David Roberts was born on 8 May 1970 in Liverpool, England. From an early age he showed a strong interest in drawing and character-making. He subsequently pursued art and design education, beginning with a foundation course and then specialising in fashion design at Manchester Metropolitan University. After graduating, he spent time working in Hong Kong as a milliner and fashion illustrator, before returning to the UK and refocusing his career on children’s book illustration.

This varied background — from fashion to millinery to illustration — helped him develop a sharp eye for form, gesture, cloth and movement, all of which would feed into his later illustration work.

Career Beginnings

Once back in Britain, Roberts joined the children’s publishing world. He signed with the illustration agency Artist Partners and gradually built a portfolio of work spanning both black-and-white illustrations (often for older‐reader novels) and full-colour picture books for younger children.

His early projects included work for authors of junior fiction, where his wit, dynamic drawing style and ability to capture character really came to the fore. At the same time he developed his own author-illustrator work, most notably the “Dirty Bertie” series, which established his reputation for humour and distinctive character design.

Major Collaborations & Publications

Roberts’s name is associated with some very well-known children’s books and acclaimed authors:

• He illustrated the picture book Ada Twist, Scientist (written by Andrea Beaty), which brought science, curiosity and design to life for young readers.
• He collaborated with the celebrated author Julia Donaldson on titles such as Tyrannosaurus Drip, The Troll and Jack and the Flum Flum Tree, showing his versatility in adapting his illustration style to playful narrative and rhythm.
• For older readers he has provided lively black-and-white illustrations for series such as the Eddie Dickens novels by Philip Ardagh, bringing mischief and movement to the page.
• With his sister Lynn Roberts (also a children’s-book writer), he undertook retellings of classic fairy tales — Little Red: A Fizzingly Good Yarn, Sleeping Beauty and Rapunzel: A Groovy Fairy Tale — where his playful period styling and character energy shine through.

Style & Technique

Roberts’s illustration style is easily identifiable and combines several strengths:

• Expressive character work – Raised eyebrows, exaggerated postures, energetic movement. His figures often seem to be mid-action or caught in a comic moment.
• Strong line and clear form – Even in black & white illustrations for older readers, Roberts uses confident, clean line work, giving a readability and punch to his pages.
• Vibrant colour work in picture books – His full-colour books convey warmth, humour and accessibility. He balances detail with simplicity, ensuring the illustrations appeal to children while retaining professionalism.
• Adaptability – Roberts has shown he can shift style depending on audience: more detailed and text-heavy books for older children; airy, bold colour for early years.
• Humour and narrative illustration – He treats the image not just as decoration but as part of storytelling: facial expressions, background gags, visual pacing all contribute to the narrative flow.

He has commented that much of his work involves heavy sketching, story-boarding and iteration even before final art is produced, showing commitment to craft and process.

Recognition & Impact

• His black-and-white illustration for Mouse Noses on Toast (by Daren King) won the Gold Award in the Nestlé Children’s Book Prize (age 6-8) in 2006, establishing his credentials in the field of children’s illustration.
• His work appears globally and has been translated into many languages, making his style familiar in many children’s libraries and schools.
• By combining humour, engaging visual character and accessibility to children of various ages, Roberts has contributed to promoting reading and visual literacy among young people.
• His collaborations with prominent authors and his own author-illustrator ventures help underscore his reputation as a seasoned professional in the children’s publishing industry.

Publications & Selected Works

Some of his notable works include:

• Dirty Bertie (author-illustrator) – a mischievous character that gave Roberts his early authorial identity.
• Ada Twist, Scientist (illustrator) – helping to bring science and invention to younger readers.
• Tyrannosaurus Drip, The Troll, Jack and the Flum Flum Tree (illustrator) – with Julia Donaldson.
• Fairy-tale retellings with Lynn Roberts – showing his range and collaborative scope.
• The Bolds series (illustrated for Julian Clary) – reinforcing his reputation for humour and distinctive character design.

Personal & Professional Approach

Roberts has spoken openly about his creative routine: he works from home, begins his day fairly early, and spends substantial time sketching, researching and preparing layouts before final artwork. He emphasises that each illustration must serve the narrative and reader’s experience, not just look decorative. His background in fashion design and millinery influences his awareness of posture, clothing and how characters inhabit space.

He is equally comfortable working on the full-colour picture book format and the black-and-white illustrations in more text-heavy books, which shows both technical skill and professional versatility.

Why His Work Matters

• Roberts makes reading visually exciting: his illustrations draw children in, supporting literacy and imagination.
• His ability to engage across different age groups (very young picture-book readers to older independent readers) gives him broad relevance in children’s publishing.
• Through collaborations with major authors and his own original work, he has become a trusted figure in UK children’s literature.
• As an illustrator he bridges the gap between craft and storytelling, showing that illustration is integral to the narrative, character and emotional engagement of children’s books.

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