DONALDSON, Julia.

Inquire · Offered by Peter Harrington

A Squash and a Squeeze. First edition. This was the first collaboration between Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. The book appeared six years before The Gruffalo and is comparatively rare in commerce.During the 1970s Julia Donaldson contributed material to BBC Children's Television as a songwriter. The programme Play School broadcast her story "A Squash and a Squeeze" on 6 January 1978, and a BBC Record (Play On - Songs from Play School), from the same year, included the story sung by Derek Griffiths and Floella Benjamin.However, it took over 13 years for a children's publisher to approach Donaldson and propose publication of the story as a picture book. Methuen Children's Books commissioned illustrations from Axel Scheffler. The book was the artist's second picture book.

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