Jill McDonald (1927 – 1982) was born in New Zealand and trained initially to be an architect, but then went on to be responsible for some of the most charming children's illustration of the 1960's and 1970's.
The editor Kaye Webb first met Jill whilst in a promotional book tour of New Zealand, and told her if she ever needed a job to call on her on England. In 1967 she did just that moving to London and fast became the illustrator that made the Puffin Club iconic, creating its logo and merchandise as well as illustrating many of the Puffin Club editions.
Why Jill McDonald is not more celebrated I do not know, and I am really sad that 'Puffin Club' this dynamic wonderful arm of children's publishing has vanished, despite an attempted relaunch 'Puffin Post' in 2008.
The Puffin Club was the groundbreaking venture launched by editor Kaye Webb in 1967 that changed children’s books forever, she wrote of Jill:
“Everything she drew or wrote contained such joyfulness and delight in life which was the essence of her personality.”
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