So I was doing farming and handling the Mr Men business straight after my dad died. My mum stayed there until about 1992 and then she sold the farm." And it guards the family well. It has taken almost 11 months of patient negotiations and regular reminders to organise the interview with Adam. Charles Roger Hargreaves was an English author and illustrator of children's books, notably the Mr. Men and Little Miss series, intended for very young readers. He is Britain's third best-selling author, having sold more than 100 million books.

Mr. Tickle by Roger Hargreaves | Waterstones

He was a larger than life character in all respects," Adam says of his father. "He was 6ft 5in, so very tall and commanded a room. He was really rather ebullient, and had a terrific sense of humour, that I think comes out in the stories. He loved puns, practical jokes and daft humour. But he was a hard worker, and spent a lot of time creating the success of the Mr Men. Having studied art, Adam Hargreaves was persuaded to follow in his father's footsteps. He started creating new characters and stories – something he continues to this day for publishers Farshore. Fundamentally, I think two great things happened under Chorion,” says Ron Allen, executive vice-president of the television production and licensing company Silvergate Media, who worked on Mr Men while at Chorion (giant Mr Bump and Mr Greedy teddies used to sit in on meetings). First, the company launched a new television series, the Mr Men Show, in 2008 (there had been three previous series of Mr Men between the 1970s and 1990s), which Allen says grew the intellectual property (IP) globally. Second, Allen says he and his team helped the brand become “a vehicle for self-expression among young adults and teenagers”. Particularly popular were Little Miss Sunshine T-shirts, favoured by celebrities such as Britney Spears (Paris Hilton opted for Little Miss Christmas). The illustrations are brilliant: simple but eye-catchingly bright and complement the text wonderfully.Brooker, Charlie (2 June 2014). "The Mr Men inhabit a godless universe. It's a brutal existence". The Guardian. My mum stayed at the farmhouse and I took over the management of the farm for a few years after he died," explains Adam. Hargreaves died at the age of 53 following a stroke. After his death, his son, Adam, continued writing and drawing the Mr. Men and Little Miss characters with new stories (while signing the covers in his father's signature).

MR TICKLE | MR MEN series book No. 1 Read Aloud Roger

During the 1970s my dad became a wealthy man," explains Adam. "And he enjoyed his success. One of those perks was a very nice house." The style of the books was, and remains, understated – Hargreaves himself once said, “I can’t draw properly so I have to keep it simple. I’m much too lazy to write a novel, so short stories are ideal for me.” Frank Cottrell-Boyce, author of award-winning children’s books including Millions, describes the Mr Men books as “democratic” – reminiscent of early-reader school books, with a visual simplicity that invites kids to draw the characters themselves. The writing is equally simple – or as Boyce puts it, “very heavy on the exclamation marks”. He enjoyed the business side of it. The creation of a brand, as it were. As well as simple children's book idea." a b Tait, Amelia (18 August 2021). "How the Mr Men made their millions". New Statesman . Retrieved 26 August 2021.While Michael Bond’s Paddington is currently celebrating its heritage at the British Library, the Museum of Brands in West London’s Notting Hill is hosting the “Mr Men Little Miss 50th Anniversary” exhibition. There you can see some of the earliest licensed Mr Men products, from bubble baths to plastic radios to the somewhat ironic Mr Greedy low-fat strawberry yogurt. I regret the way I felt now as, because my dad died so young, I didn't get to tell him how I felt about Mr Men and what a brilliant idea I think it is," says Adam. Mr. Christmas · Mr. Birthday · Little Miss Christmas · Little Miss Birthday · Mr. Moustache · Little Miss Valentine · Dr. Men · Mr. Bolt · Little Miss Waste Less