Trewellard, J.M. (Juliet Trewellard)

Personal

Born in England; children: two. Education: Attended Sussex University and Central School of Speech and Drama.

Addresses

Home—Cornwall, England, and London, England.

Career

Writer. Has worked as an actor; founder and artistic director of a touring theatre company in Cornwall, England. Has also taught literature and theatre studies.

Writings

Butterfingers, illustrated by Ian Beck, David Fickling Books (New York, NY), 2007.

Also author of stage plays, radio plays, poems, and short stories.

Sidelights

J.M. Trewellard, an actor, theater director, and educator, is the author of the fairy tale Butterfingers, her first work for children. Trewellard, who attended the Central School of Speech and Drama in London and founded a touring theatre company, also pens short stories, plays, and poetry.

Butterfingers centers on Ned, a clumsy, good-hearted stable boy who pines for the lovely Princess Bella. When the princess is snatched up by a fire-breathing dragon, Ned decides to mount a rescue attempt after the palace knights fail to save Bella. Taking possession of Bella's golden ball, Ned sets out on his dangerous mission, accompanied by Dilly the pony and Tuff the dog. Along the way, they encounter a host of talking animals, including an otter, a lark, and a fox, who join them on their quest.

Butterfingers earned generally strong reviews. Writing in School Library Journal, Kelly Roth recommended Trewellard's "well-told story [as] … a simple fantasy for beginning chapter-book readers." Other reviewers praised the fantasy elements in the story. Debbie Carton, writing in Booklist, noted that "readers will appreciate the lovable and distinct characteristics each animal brings to the rescue team." A critic in Kirkus Reviews observed that Trewellard "kicks up her debut with tried-and-true folktale motifs."

Biographical and Critical Sources

PERIODICALS

Booklist, December 1, 2007, Debbie Carton, review of Butterfingers, p. 38.

Kirkus Reviews, July 15, 2007, review of Butterfingers.

School Library Journal, September, 2007, Kelly Roth, review of Butterfingers, p. 1778.

ONLINE

Random House Web site,http://www.randomhouse.co.uk/ (December 15, 2008), "J.M. Trewellard."