Alain Gree

Best-known for his distinctively colourful images and early education series, French author and illustrator Alain Grée has worked on over 300 books in a career that has spanned more than 50 years....

Born near Paris in 1936, Grée studied at the Ecole des Arts Appliqués and initially dreamed of writing and illustrating as a means to having the freedom to sail around the world. Early in his career Grée created Romeo the dog, whose ventures in the Romeo Explores books have taken him around locations ranging from the city to the farm, seaside and garden, all the while prompting young readers to think about their surroundings.

Whether focusing on a particular theme – nature, transport or the seasons – or concepts such as the alphabet or numbers, Grée has tended to illustrate his books himself but more recent titles have seen him collaborate with his brother Gerard.

In addition to the children’s illustrations he is most-associated with today, Grée has penned three detective novels, spent two years as a children’s television producer, created twelve educational board games and numerous books and magazine articles on his first love, sailing.