Lucy Cousins

Lucy Cousins studied at Royal College of Art and University of Brighton. The recorded working language is English. The field of work recorded is children's and young adult literature and young adult literature. Works named in the authority record are Maisy Mouse. Distinctions recorded are Nestlé Children's Book Prize, Boekensleutel and Silver Brush.

• Name — Lucy Cousins • Education — Royal College of Art • Occupation — Children's book writer and illustrator • Notable Works — Maisy (book series)

Cousins, whose parents were also artists, was interested in children's books from an early age. But it took until the end of six years in art college for her to decide that she wanted to create children's books. Cousins received BA Honours in graphic design from the Faculty of Arts and Architecture at Brighton Polytechnic. She then attended the Royal College of Art, where she met artist Quentin Blake, who encouraged her work. She developed her sense of design and colour at the Royal College of Art.

Cousins' books are aimed at preschool-aged children and younger or older. Her work, especially the character of Maisy Mouse, is a successful publishing brand, with books printed in 27 different languages and over 27 million copies of her books in print. Apart from the Maisy books, Cousins has also published other children's books, such as Jazzy in the Jungle (2002) and one about Noah's Ark.

Her board books, designed especially for toddlers, are considered among the best, according to Horn Book Magazine. The Carnegie Library listed Maisy's First Colors as a 2013 pick for their Best Books for Babies list. Cousins' character, Maisy, was featured on a postage stamp published by the U.S. Postal Service in their 2006 Favorite Children's Book Animals Series. Cousins won a Booktrust Best Book Award in 2014 for Peck, Peck, Peck. She received Mathical Honors for Count with Maisy, Cheep, Cheep, Cheep!.

Lucy Cousins is recorded as having received Nestlé Children's Book Prize, Boekensleutel and Silver Brush.