Curse of the School Rabbit

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 in the fifty years since, it has become a much-loved classic and perennial bestseller.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.

“A funny satire of the film industry, a poignant comment on sibling differences and a timely reminder that we should try to see the good in all sorts of rabbits from an author who lived her life by that maxim.”Alex O’Connell, The Times“[The Curse of the School Rabbit] possesses all of [Judith Kerr’s] trademark qualities: lyrical artwork, a gently anarchic plot and the warmth and humanity that made her work immune to shifts in publishing fashion. And perhaps what is most impressive in an author of 95: the unfailing ability to see the world through the eyes of a child.”Emily Bearn, The Telegraph Review“The last work by the much-lamented Judith Kerr is The Curse of the School Rabbit, a lovely conclusion to her life in books…a very funny story about a little boy and his theatrical little sister and his efforts to do his best by everyone. The pictures are a joy.”Melanie McDonagh, Evening Standard“Kerr’s distinctive pencil illustrations convey the chaotic fondness of family life throughout her last story.”Imogen Russell Williams, The Guardian Review“Is there a more perfect children’s writer for this generation than Judith Kerr? . . . The author was a genius, with an affectionate sensibility. The deceptive simplicity of her stories and her capacity to see things from a child’s point of view were very rare gifts. Thank you, Judith Kerr.”Melanie McDonagh, The Spectator“The final work from the irreplaceable Judith Kerr, The Curse of the School Rabbit is suffused with her distinctive good nature and sly mischief.The tale of a naughty bunny and their exasperated young handler pops with Kerr’s singular artwork and stands as a shining testament to her unique storytelling skills.”Waterstones“A new family story full of Judith Kerr’s hallmark good cheer, this will delight readers of all ages.”Julia Eccleshare, Book of the Month