Kaye umansky biography examples

'A Bewitching tale, charmingly told and is certain to delight any witch in the making' M.G, Leonard, award-winning author of Beetle Boy
'A gorgeous story that bubbles with charm, wit and magic' Abi Elphinstone, author of The Dreamsnatcher
'Bursting with memorable characters, a huge sense of fun and a big dollop of honey, flowers and strawberry-scented magic!' Joe Berger, author of Lyttle Lies and Hubble Bubble
'A sulky raven, a grubby dog and a common-sense heroine with a strong sense of customer service. This is a funny, magical treat!' Holly Webb, author of Lost in the Snow

When Elsie Pickles offers to house-sit the mysterious home of local witch Magenta Sharp, she has no idea what she's getting herself into. Left with a talking raven and a scruffy dog for company, a magical tower that has a mind of its own and a book of instruction called Everything You Need to Know, what could possibly go wrong?

With an assortment of weird and wonderful neighbours banging at the door and a box of volatile magical ingredients that must be used immediately, Elsie finds out that looking after Magenta's home might not be as easy as she first thought does she have what it takes to be a witch for a week or will it all end in a magical disaster?

A new magical adventure from Kaye Umansky, the bestselling author of the spellbinding children's classicPongwiffy, brought to life with charming illustrations from rising star Ashley King!

Personal

Born December 6, , in Plymouth, England; married; husband's name Moe; children: Ella; (stepchildren) Dave, Dan, Zoe. Education: Attended teachers' training college. Hobbies and other interests: Travel, reading, music.

Addresses

Home—Crouch End, North London, England.

Career

Writer, actor, musician, and educator. Teacher of music and drama in London, England.

Awards, Honors

Nottinghamshire Book Award, , for Pongwiffy and the Spell of the Year; Times Educational Supplement Junior Music Book Award, , for Three Rapping Rats.

Writings

Bandybones, illustrated by Maggie Read, Macmillan Education (Basingstoke, England),

Little Sister, illustrated by David Dowland and Joyce Smith, Macmillan Education (Basingstoke, England),

The Toymaker's Birthday, illustrated by Ken Morton, Macmillan Educational (Basingstoke, England),

Big Iggy, illustrated by Katie Thomas, A. & C. Black (London, England), , reprinted,

Litterbugs (play), Macmillan Educational (Basingstoke, England),

Phantasmagoria: Thirty-three Songs, Story Lines, and Sound Adventures (song book), music by Andy Jackson, A. & C. Black (London, England),

Witches in Stitches, illustrated by Judy Brown, Puffin (London, England),

The Fwog Pwince, illustrated by Gwyneth Williamson, A. & C. Black (London, England),

King Keith and the Nasty Case of Dragonitis, illustrated by Ainslie Macleod, Viking (London, England),

Tin Can Hero, illustrated by John Dyke, Hodder & Stoughton (London, England),

Tiger and Me, illustrated by Susie Jenkin-Pearce, Red Fox (London, England),

Trash Hits, illustrated by Judy Brown, Puffin (London, England),

King Keith and the Jolly Lodger, illustrated by Ainslie Macleod, Viking (London, England),

Sir Quinton Quest Hunts the Yeti, illustrated by Judy Brown, A. & C. Black (London, England),

The Misfortunes of Captain Cadaverous, illustrated by Judy Brown, BBC Books (London, England),

English children's author and poet

Kaye Umansky (; born 6 December ) is an English children's author and poet. She has written over books for children and her work ranges from picture books to novels. She is best known for the Pongwiffy & Jim Series.

Early life

Kaye Umansky was born in Plymouth, Devon. Her mother was a music teacher and encouraged her to play from a young age and her father was also a teacher who encouraged her reading.

As an only child, Kaye wrote stories and plays, which she tried to get her friends to act in.

After Kaye left school, she went to London to train as a teacher. Kaye enjoyed teaching music, drama and creative writing, but not mathematics. Alongside her husband, Kaye formed a soul band and played in the evenings and at weekends; she says they "never became rich and famous, but we had a lot of fun".

She continued writing as a hobby and began writing full-time when her daughter was born.

Personal life

She lives in North London with her husband Mo, an engineer, they have been together over 30 years. She has a daughter called Ella. She has an extended family of step children and step grandchildren. She got two katen named: Jeremy and Heathcliff.

Career

Umansky got her first children's book published in The book was a collection of songs for children and was called Phantasmagoria. Kaye still writes music books, along with plays, poems, novels and picture books. But she is best known as the creator of Pongwiffy

She cites Richmal Crompton and Terry Pratchett as two of her biggest literary influences and her style has been compared to that of Roald Dahl and Eva Ibbotson.

In , she was a judge for the inaugural Roald Dahl Funny Prize for humorous children's literature.

Pongwiffy

Originally published by A & C Black, then in paperback by Penguin Books, the first Pongwiffy boo