Debi Gliori
Debi Gliori (born 1959) is a Scottish writer and illustrator of children's books.
Debi Gliori
- Name
- Debi Gliori
- Born
- 1959
- Birthplace
- Glasgow, Scotland
- Occupation
- Writer, illustrator
- Nationality
- United Kingdom
- Languages
- English
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Documentary summary
Debi Gliori (born 1959) is a Scottish writer and illustrator of children's books.
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Debi Gliori (born 1959) is an illustrator and writer, of British nationality. The illustrator was born in Glasgow. Languages used include English.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 26 September 2026
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In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Debi Gliori • Born — 1959 • Birthplace — Glasgow, Scotland • Children — 5 • Occupation — Writer, illustrator • Genre — Children's literature, picture books
Life and career
Life and career
Gliori was born in Glasgow and grew up there as an only child. She started writing children's books in 1976 and attended art school in Edinburgh from 1979 to 1984. She then received an Andrew Grant travelling scholarship award to go to Milan, and worked as a freelance from 1984. In 1989, independent children's book publisher Walker Books signed her, and she acquired an agent three years later. Gliori is the creator of many children's books including the Mr Bear picture book series. She wrote the black comedy Pure Dead series for older children, with Pure Dead Magic being her first novel. Gliori has five children. She lives in Haddington, East Lothian.
The Tobermory cat
The Tobermory cat
Two small cats known as The Distillery Cats appear on The Tobermory Distillery Sign. In 2012, the origin of the idea of Gliori's book, The Tobermory Cat came under fierce online dispute. There have been a number of creative works using the name "Tobermory", most notably an illustrated children's book, The Tobermory Cat by Debi Gliori and the earlier Facebook page and book entitled Tobermory Cat by the Isle of Mull artist Angus Stewart.
Pure Dead
Pure Dead
• Pure Dead Magic (2001) • Pure Dead Wicked (2002) • Pure Dead Brilliant (2003) • Deep Trouble (2004) aka Pure Dead Trouble • Deep Water (2005) aka Pure Dead Batty • Deep Fear (2006) aka Pure Dead Frozen • Pure Dead Magic / Pure Dead Wicked / Pure Dead Brilliant (omnibus) (2004)
Witch Baby
Witch Baby
• Witch Baby and Me (2008) • Witch Baby and Me Go to School (2009) • Witch Baby and Me After Dark (2009) • Witch Baby and Me on Stage (2010)
Anthologies (as editor)
Anthologies (as editor)
• Noisy Poems (1997) • Book of Nursery Rhymes (2001)
Articles
Articles
*
Other reviews
Other reviews
*
Videos
Videos
*
Picture books
• New Big Sister (1991) • New Big House (1992) • My Little Brother (1992) • Dulcie Dando, Soccer Star (1992) • Lizzie and Her Friend (1993) • Lizzie and Her Puppy (1993) • A Lion at Bedtime (1993) • Lizzie and Her Dolly (1993) • Oliver's Alphabets (1993) • Mr. Bear Babysits (1994) • The Snowchild (1994) • When I'm Big (1994) • A Present for Big Pig (1994) • Willie Bear and the Wish Fish (1995) • Mr. Bear's Picnic (1995) • The Snow Lambs (1995) • Mr. Bear to the Rescue (1996) • Lizzie and Her Kitty (1996) • Princess and the Pirate King (1996) • Mr. Bear Says Are You There, Baby Bear? (1997) • Mr. Bear Says a Spoonful for You (1997) • Mr. Bear Says Good Night (1997) • Mr. Bear Says I Love You (1997) • Mr. Bear Says Peek-A-Boo (1997) • Mr. Bear Novelty Book (1997) • Corragan Is Ordagan (1998) • Hello, Baby Bear (1998) • Mr. Bear Says Hello, Baby Bear (1998) • Mr. Bear's New Baby (1998) • Mr. Bear Says a Little Hush Please (1998) • Mr. Bear Says Can I Have a Hug? (1998) • Mr. Bear Says Let's Go Outside (1998) • Mr. Bear Says Tickly Under There (1998) • Give Him My Heart (1999) • No Matter What (1999) • Mr. Bear's Vacation (2000) • Mr. Bear's Holiday (2000) • Polar Bolero (2000) • Flora's Blanket (2001) • Where, Oh Where, Is Baby Bear? (2001) • Tell Me What It's Like to Be Big (2001) • Tell Me Something Happy Before I Go to Sleep (2002) • Can I Have a Hug? (2002) • Tickly Under There (2002) • Penguin Post (2002) • Flora's Surprise (2003) • Flora's Flowers (2003) • The Big Mr Bear Storybook (2003) • Where Did That Baby Come From? (2004) • Woodland Tales: Hush Little Chick (2005) • Woodland Tales: Little Fox's Picnic (2005) • Little Owl's Swim (2005) • Wake Up Little Rabbit (2005) • Goodnight, Baby Bat! (2007) • Little Bear and the Wish Fish (2008) • The Trouble with Dragons (2008) • Are You There, Baby Bear? (2009) • Bear's Bedtime Lullaby (2009) • Stormy Weather (2009) • Mr. Bear's Birthday (2010) • The Scariest Thing of All (2011) • What's the Time, Mr. Wolf? (2012) • The Tobermory Cat (2012)
Reception
Reviewing What's the Time Mr Wolf? in We Love This Book, Caroline Downie writes, "Gliori's illustrations are a delight, full of detail and surprises", with "so many things on each page to discover, share, count and laugh at." On BookTrust's website, What's the Time Mr Wolf? is described as "a delightful story, inspired by traditional fairy tales as well as the familiar playground game, 'What's the Time Mr Wolf?'" The reviewer found the book to contain much "lively detail" and "beautiful illustrations" and suggested that it would make a perfect and soothing bedtime story. At SchoolZone, schools librarian Joy Court found What's the Time Mr Wolf? to be "an enchantingly original story" and "a delight to read aloud". She writes that the book is "perfect for practising telling the time" and for the [British] educational Key Stage 1. At Parents in Touch, the reviewer writes that the book is humorous, "filled with much loved characters" and contains "catchy text" which is "a joy to read aloud". The reviewer adds that the illustrations are "packed with thoughtful detail" and an "utter delight".
Collections
• Debi Gliori's Bedtime Stories (2002)
Awards
Mr. Bear won the Red House Children's Book Award for picture books in 1997. Mr. Bear to the Rescue was shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway Medal in 1997; Mr. Bear Babysits, Mr. Bear's Picnic and Mr. Bear to the Rescue were all awarded a Gold award in the Petit Filous Best Toy Awards, and Mr. Bear Says Goodnight was chosen for the Booktrust's Bookstart project. Where, Oh Where, is Baby Bear? was shortlisted for the Sainsbury's Baby Book Award in 2001. Always and Forever, written by Alan Durant and illustrated by Debi Gliori, was shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway Medal in 2003. Her work has also been shortlisted for the Scottish Arts Council Award (for Pure Dead Wicked in 2003), and for the Royal Mail Award (for Stormy Weather in 2010). On 6 November 2018 she was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Letter at Strathclyde University.
Media coverage
Media coverage
* * * * * • The programme was broadcast at 6:30pm, UK time, on 7 November 2012. The piece runs from 24:33 onwards and was available online until 6:59pm on Thursday 8 November 2012. • The BBC Scotland piece is also available in this Gaelic language version.
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Staff. Debi Gliori. Scottish Book Trust.
- 2.Staff. Orchard Books > Author A to Z : G > Debi Gliori Profile. Orchard Books. January 2026.
- 3.Bale, Karen. Children's best-selling author reveals her garden is where she finds her inspiration. Daily Record. 7 October 2012.
- 4.What's the Time, Mr Wolf? by Debi Gliori. coles-books.co.uk.
- 5.Downie, Caroline. What's the Time Mr Wolf?. We Love This Book. The Bookseller Media Group. 2012.
- 6.Staff. What's the Time, Mr Wolf?. Booktrust. 2012.
- 7.Court, Joy. What's the Time, Mr Wolf?. SchoolZone. ReadingZone. 2012.
- 8.Staff. Book reviews – fiction age 2 to 5 (page 6): What's the Time, Mr Wolf? by Debi Gliori. Parents in Touch. 2012.
- 9.Staff. Red House Children's Book Award – Past Winners. Red House Children's Book Award. Federation of Children's Book Groups.
- 10.Brennan, Geraldine. Library favourites: Kate Greenaway Medal shortlist illustrators. TES magazine. TSL Education Ltd. 11 May 2008.
- 11.Judges. Press Desk: The CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal Shortlist 2003: Judges Comments. The CILIP Carnegie & Kate Greenaway Children's Book Awards. 2004.
- 12.Judges. Scottish Arts Council book of the Year Award 2003: Announcement of shortleet (sic). Scottish Arts Council. 23 May 2003.
- 13.Staff. Debi Gliori Gallery. Booktrust.
- 14.Staff. Debi Gliori's Profile. Caroline Sheldon Literary Agency Ltd.
- 15.Anderson, Donald. Shetland Inspired Book Short Listed for Major Prize. Shetland Arts. Shetland Arts Development Agency. 6 October 2010.
- 16.Staff. Tails from an Island: Tobermory Replaces Iconic Sign. PRLog Press Release Distribution. 22 July 2010.
- 17.For example, Tobermory is the name of a talking cat in the short story Tobermory by Hector Hugh Munro (1870–1916), who wrote as Saki.
- 18.Flood, Alison. Cat at centre of bitter children's book scrap. The Guardian. Guardian News and Media Limited. 30 October 2012.
- 19.Saki. Tobermory by Saki. Literature of the Fantastic.
- 20.Staff. Worldcat search for "Debi Gliori". WorldCat.
- 21.Staff. PURE DEAD MAGIC by Debi Gliori. Kirkus Reviews. 1 August 2001.
- 22.Staff. PURE DEAD WICKED by Debi Gliori. Kirkus Reviews. 1 July 2002.
- 23.missylybmouse. Pure Dead Brilliant by Debi Gliori – review. The Guardian Children's Books. Guardian News and Media Limited. 19 October 2011.
- 24.Staff. WITCH BABY AND ME by Debi Gliori. Kirkus Reviews. 1 July 2010.
- 25.Staff. WITCH BABY AND ME ON STAGE by Debi Gliori. Kirkus Reviews. 1 July 2011.
- 26.Staff. NEW BIG SISTER by Debi Gliori. Kirkus Reviews. 15 August 1991.
- 27.Staff. NEW BIG HOUSE by Debi Gliori. Kirkus Reviews. 15 May 1992.
- 28.Staff. MR. BEAR BABYSITS by Debi Gliori. Kirkus Reviews. 1 June 1994.
- 29.Staff. MR. BEAR'S NEW BABY by Debi Gliori. Kirkus Reviews. 15 January 1999.
- 30.Staff. NO MATTER WHAT by Debi Gliori. Kirkus Reviews. 1 November 1999.
- 31.Staff. FLORA'S BLANKET by Debi Gliori. Kirkus Reviews. 1 March 2001.
- 32.Staff. FLORA'S SURPRISE! by Debi Gliori. Kirkus Reviews. 15 December 2002.
- 33.Staff. WHERE DID THAT BABY COME FROM? by Debi Gliori. Kirkus Reviews. 15 January 2005.
- 34.Staff. THE TROUBLE WITH DRAGONS by Debi Gliori. Kirkus Reviews. 15 September 2008.
- 35.Staff. STORMY WEATHER by Debi Gliori. Kirkus Reviews. 15 October 2009.
- 36.Staff. THE SCARIEST THING OF ALL by Debi Gliori. Kirkus Reviews. 1 April 2012.
- 37.Repa and Amirah, 2. What's the time, Mr Wolf? by Debi Gliori – review. The Guardian Children's Books. Guardian News and Media Limited. 4 October 2012.
- 38.Eccleshare, Julia. What's the Time, Mr Wolf?. September 2012.
- 39.Eccleshare, Julia. What's the time Mr Wolf?. mumsnet. Mumsnet Limited. October 2012.
- 40.Staff. WHAT'S THE TIME, MR. WOLF? by Debi Gliori. Kirkus Reviews. 1 September 2012.
- 41.Craig, Amanda. Children's book of the week: The Tobermory Cat. The Times. News Corporation. 3 November 2012.
- 42.Staff. Untitled (about the Tobermory cat). Reporting Scotland. BBC Scotland. 7 November 2012.
- 43.Staff. Buaireadh mu chat ann am Muile. BBC Naidheachdan. BBC Television. 7 November 2012.
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 16 August 2026.
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