My First MOG 123

Judith Kerr OBE was born in Berlin. Her family left Germany in 1933 to escape the rising Nazi party, and came to England. She studied at the Central School of Art and later worked as a scriptwriter for the BBC.

Judith married the celebrated screenwriter Nigel Kneale in 1954. She left the BBC to look after their two children, who inspired her first picture book, The Tiger Who Came to Tea. Published in 1968 and never out of print since, it has become a much-loved classic and perennial bestseller. Her second book was Mog the Forgetful Cat, which was published in 1970 and has also gone on to become a beloved classic, with Mog appearing in a further 17 adventures in the years since.

Judith was awarded the Booktrust Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016, and in 2019 was named Illustrator of the Year at the British Book Awards. Judith died in May 2019 at the age of 95, and her stories continue to entertain and delight generations of children.

Praise for Mog:
‘Since her debut in 1970, Mog has become… a national hero.’ Junior Magazine

‘A firm favourite on children's bookshelves’ The Telegraph

‘Mog is a star, she really is. I can't recommend her highly enough. Someone should give that cat a medal, or an egg for breakfast.’ The Bookbag

‘Delightful stories about the family cat with attitude.’ The Guardian

Praise for Judith Kerr:
‘One of the best authors a child of 3+ could encounter.’ The Times

“It’s no surprise Judith’s work is still popular. It owes nothing to the vagaries of style or fashion. Her warmth and humanity are timeless.” Michael Foreman