Charles Roger Hargreaves (9 May 1935 – 11 September 1988) was an English author and illustrator of children's books. He created the Mr. Men series, Little Miss series and Timbuctoo series, intended for young readers. The simple and humorous stories, with bold, brightly coloured illustrations, have sales of over 85 million copies worldwide in 20 languages.[1] The first title in the series, Mr. Tickle, was published in August 1971.[2]
Charles Roger Hargreaves was born in a private hospital[3] at 201 Bath Road, Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire, England, on 9 May 1935 to Alfred Reginald Hargreaves and Ethel Mary Hargreaves. He grew up at 703 Halifax Road,[3] Hartshead Moor, Cleckheaton, outside of which there now is a commemorative plaque.
Early life
Hargreaves attended Sowerby Bridge Grammar School (now Trinity Academy Sowerby Bridge).[4] He then spent a year working in his father's laundry and dry-cleaning business before gaining employment in advertising.[1][5] By 1968, he was creative director of the Foote, Cone & Belding agency where he wrote slogans such as "Emigrate to Canada Dry (for the sake of your Scotch)".[2] Originally wanting to become a cartoonist, in 1971, he created a successful series of characters used to promote Askit Powders on television (these were used from 1971 to 1994).[6]
Also, in 1971 while working as the creative director at a London firm, he wrote the first Mr. Men book, Mr. Tickle. Initially, he had difficulty finding a publisher, but once he did, the books became an instant success, selling over one million copies within three years. In 1974,[7] the books spawned a BBC animated television series narrated by Arthur Lowe. A second series the following year saw newer titles transmitted in double bill format with those from the first series.
By 1976, Hargreaves had quit his day job. In 1981, the Little Miss series of books was launched and in 1983, it also was made into a television series narrated by Pauline Collins and her husband, John Alderton. Although Hargreaves wrote many other children's stories—including the Timbuctoo series of 25 books, John Mouse and the Roundy and Squarey books—he is best known for his 46 Mr. Men and 33 Little Miss books.
Death
Between 1975 and 1982, Hargreaves lived with his family on Guernsey. Then, they settled at Sussex House Farm near Cowden, Kent. Hargreaves died on 11 September 1988 at the age of 53 and at the Kent and Sussex Hospital in Royal Tunbridge Wells following a stroke. He was buried in Cowden, East Sussex. He bought the adjacent field to the grave yard at Cowden Church so that he could be buried there.[8] After his death, his son, Adam, continued writing and drawing the Mr. Men and Little Miss characters with new stories (while signing the covers in his father's signature). In April 2004, Hargreaves' widow Christine sold the rights to the Mr. Men characters to the UK entertainment group Chorion, for £28 million.[9] In December 2011, Chorion sold the Mr. Men brand and its associated merchandise business to Japan's Sanrio.[10]
Hargreaves and his wife had four children: Adam, Giles and twins Sophie and Amelia. The first of the Mr. Men characters was allegedly created when Hargreaves' son Adam, then aged 8, asked his father what a tickle looked like. Hargreaves drew a figure with a round orange body and long arms which became Mr. Tickle.
Timbuctoo, one of the creations by Roger Hargreaves
References
^ ab"People of 1988: Obituaries", 1989 Britannica Book of the Year, Chicago: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 1989, ISBN0-85229-504-9
^ abTait, Amelia (18 August 2021). "How the Mr Men made their millions". New Statesman. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
^ abHeward, Margaret (18 October 2007). "You need dedication to be tickled orange". Spenborough Guardian. Johnston Press Digital Publishing. Retrieved 14 March 2008.
^Sowerby Bridge High Old Boy or Girl at Halifax Courier. Retrieved 25 May 2015
^"Let's Go to Misterland". BBC Radio 4. Retrieved 9 May 2011.
^. Evening Standard. UK. Archived from the original on 23 June 2011. Retrieved 9 May 2011.
^Mark Sweney (6 December 2011). "Mr Men bought by Hello Kitty owner". The Guardian. UK.
^"Mr Men Google doodles celebrate 76th birthday of creator Roger Hargreaves". The Telegraph. London. 9 May 2011. Retrieved 9 May 2011.
External links
Official website
March 25, 2023
roger, hargreaves, charles, 1935, september, 1988, english, author, illustrator, children, books, created, series, little, miss, series, timbuctoo, series, intended, young, readers, simple, humorous, stories, with, bold, brightly, coloured, illustrations, have. Charles Roger Hargreaves 9 May 1935 11 September 1988 was an English author and illustrator of children s books He created the Mr Men series Little Miss series and Timbuctoo series intended for young readers The simple and humorous stories with bold brightly coloured illustrations have sales of over 85 million copies worldwide in 20 languages 1 The first title in the series Mr Tickle was published in August 1971 2 Roger HargreavesBornCharles Roger Hargreaves 1935 05 09 9 May 1935Cleckheaton West Yorkshire EnglandDied11 September 1988 1988 09 11 aged 53 Tunbridge Wells Kent EnglandOccupationAuthor illustratorPeriod1971 1988GenreFantasySubjectChildren s literatureNotable worksMr MenLittle MissTimbuctooSpouseChristine HargreavesChildren4 including AdamWebsitemrmen wbr com Contents 1 Birth 2 Early life 3 Death 4 Family 5 Series by Roger Hargreaves 6 Appearances in other books 7 Legacy 8 See also 9 References 10 External linksBirth EditCharles Roger Hargreaves was born in a private hospital 3 at 201 Bath Road Cleckheaton West Yorkshire England on 9 May 1935 to Alfred Reginald Hargreaves and Ethel Mary Hargreaves He grew up at 703 Halifax Road 3 Hartshead Moor Cleckheaton outside of which there now is a commemorative plaque Early life EditHargreaves attended Sowerby Bridge Grammar School now Trinity Academy Sowerby Bridge 4 He then spent a year working in his father s laundry and dry cleaning business before gaining employment in advertising 1 5 By 1968 he was creative director of the Foote Cone amp Belding agency where he wrote slogans such as Emigrate to Canada Dry for the sake of your Scotch 2 Originally wanting to become a cartoonist in 1971 he created a successful series of characters used to promote Askit Powders on television these were used from 1971 to 1994 6 Also in 1971 while working as the creative director at a London firm he wrote the first Mr Men book Mr Tickle Initially he had difficulty finding a publisher but once he did the books became an instant success selling over one million copies within three years In 1974 7 the books spawned a BBC animated television series narrated by Arthur Lowe A second series the following year saw newer titles transmitted in double bill format with those from the first series By 1976 Hargreaves had quit his day job In 1981 the Little Miss series of books was launched and in 1983 it also was made into a television series narrated by Pauline Collins and her husband John Alderton Although Hargreaves wrote many other children s stories including the Timbuctoo series of 25 books John Mouse and the Roundy and Squarey books he is best known for his 46 Mr Men and 33 Little Miss books Death EditBetween 1975 and 1982 Hargreaves lived with his family on Guernsey Then they settled at Sussex House Farm near Cowden Kent Hargreaves died on 11 September 1988 at the age of 53 and at the Kent and Sussex Hospital in Royal Tunbridge Wells following a stroke He was buried in Cowden East Sussex He bought the adjacent field to the grave yard at Cowden Church so that he could be buried there 8 After his death his son Adam continued writing and drawing the Mr Men and Little Miss characters with new stories while signing the covers in his father s signature In April 2004 Hargreaves widow Christine sold the rights to the Mr Men characters to the UK entertainment group Chorion for 28 million 9 In December 2011 Chorion sold the Mr Men brand and its associated merchandise business to Japan s Sanrio 10 On 4 March 2021 Hargreaves was posthumously awarded a gold Blue Peter badge Family EditHargreaves and his wife had four children Adam Giles and twins Sophie and Amelia The first of the Mr Men characters was allegedly created when Hargreaves son Adam then aged 8 asked his father what a tickle looked like Hargreaves drew a figure with a round orange body and long arms which became Mr Tickle Series by Roger Hargreaves EditMr Men Little Miss Walter Worm Once Upon a Worm John Mouse Albert Elephant Count Worm and Grandfather Clock I am Timbuctoo Hippo Potto and Mouse Easy Peasy People also by Gray Jolliffe Roundy and Squarey Molly MischiefAppearances in other books EditSome Mr Men books have Hargreaves drawn in them He appears in Mr Small Little Miss StarLegacy EditGoogle celebrated what would have been his 76th birthday 9 May 2011 with a series of 16 Google Doodles on its global homepage 11 See also Edit Children s literature portal Biography portalMr Men one of the creations by Roger Hargreaves Adam Hargreaves Roger Hargreaves son Timbuctoo one of the creations by Roger HargreavesReferences Edit a b People of 1988 Obituaries 1989 Britannica Book of the Year Chicago Encyclopaedia Britannica Inc 1989 ISBN 0 85229 504 9 a b Tait Amelia 18 August 2021 How the Mr Men made their millions New Statesman Retrieved 26 August 2021 a b Heward Margaret 18 October 2007 You need dedication to be tickled orange Spenborough Guardian Johnston Press Digital Publishing Retrieved 14 March 2008 Sowerby Bridge High Old Boy or Girl at Halifax Courier Retrieved 25 May 2015 Let s Go to Misterland BBC Radio 4 Retrieved 9 May 2011 Made in Scotland by Carol Foreman Mr Men to return in new TV series BBC News 15 April 2007 John Malam 2004 Hargreaves Charles Roger Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online ed Dictionary of National Biography doi 10 1093 ref odnb 76335 ISBN 978 0 19 861412 8 Retrieved 9 May 2011 Subscription or UK public library membership required Mr Men join Chorion in 28m deal Evening Standard UK Archived from the original on 23 June 2011 Retrieved 9 May 2011 Mark Sweney 6 December 2011 Mr Men bought by Hello Kitty owner The Guardian UK Mr Men Google doodles celebrate 76th birthday of creator Roger Hargreaves The Telegraph London 9 May 2011 Retrieved 9 May 2011 External links EditOfficial website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Roger Hargreaves amp oldid 1145839979, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
