Jean Adamson, the author of the beloved Topsy And Tim series, has sadly passed away at the age of 96, her family and publisher Ladybird have confirmed.
The news was announced on Sunday, December 15 , reports the Mirror. In a heartfelt statement, Jean’s grieving family said: “It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of our beloved Jean Adamson. Jean was a devoted mother, grandmother, sister, author… whose kindness and warmth touched the lives of all who knew her.”
They added: “Her presence will be greatly missed, but her memory will live on in the hearts of her family and all those she loved or that remember her through her stories. Although we will take this time to mourn her loss, we will also ensure to celebrate her remarkable life.”
Meanwhile, Ladybird described Jean as “one of our most beloved and respected children’s book creators, best known for creating Topsy and Tim with her late husband Gareth Adamson”. They noted: “The characters of Topsy and Tim first appeared in Topsy and Tim’s Monday Book, originally published by Blackie in 1960. At the time, the children’s book market was dominated by Noddy and Thomas the Tank Engine, and it was unusual for ordinary children to be the lead characters in picture books.
“For the Adamsons, having children at the centre of the narrative was part of the magic of the stories. In their eyes, the books didn’t need any fantastical elements, ‘because all the world is magic for children‘. Jean said the choice of girl and boy twins was a way of ensuring gender equality.”
Ladybird added: “Topsy and Tim has delighted children for over 60 years, and the series, later published by Ladybird Books, hasn’t been out of print in all that time.”
Born in 1928 in Peckham, Jean Adamson studied illustration at Goldsmiths College, London, after winning a scholarship from grammar school. She taught at Goldsmiths, worked as a freelance artist and illustrator, and worked in the advertising industry.
Jean met her future husband, Gareth, while studying, and they married in 1957. The couple moved to Newcastle and began creating children’s books together, collaborating on stories, illustrations, and researching.
They also worked on animations for Yorkshire TV in the 1970s. Topsy and Tim was adapted into TV shows, including an animated series with sixty episodes, and a live-action series that aired on CBeebies from 2013 and won a BAFTA award in 2016.
Jean Adamson received an MBE in 1999 for her contributions to children’s literature, and in 2016, she was made an Honorary Fellow of Goldsmiths College.
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