Julia Jarman
Julia Jarman (born 28 March 1946) is a British author who writes children's books for readers of all ages and abilities. She was born Julia Hudspeth in Deeping St James near Peterborough, England, and now lives in Riseley, Bedfordshire. She studied English and drama at Manchester University and became a qualified teacher. Her first book, When Poppy Ran Away, was published in 1985.
After her youngest daughter Mary gave birth to her first grandson, Theo, in 2001, Jarman began writing picture books for infants. Her first picture book was Big Red Bath, published in 2004. Mary later had two more children, Maya and Lois, which inspired more picture books, including Big Blue Train, Big Yellow Digger, Class Two at the Zoo, Class Three All at Sea and Ants in Your Pants.
Big Red Bath was adapted into a stage show in 2013, directed by Chris Elwell of Half Moon Young People’s Theatre in Limehouse, East London, in a co-production with Full House Theatre of Bedford. The music was by the French indie trio We are Evergreen, and the show toured the UK starting in January 2014.
Three of Jarman’s novels—Hangman, Peace Weavers and Ghost Writer—were nominated for the Carnegie Medal. She has won the Stockport Schools Book Award three times, for Big Red Bath, Class Two at the Zoo and Ghost Writer, and has been shortlisted for other prizes.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 17:49 (CET).