Rodney Peppé


Rodney Peppé is a British author and illustrator in the children's fiction and crafts genres. He is the author and illustrator of more than 80 children's books, publishing his first children's book in 1968 The Alphabet Book with Constable Young Books. His craft books teach how to build mechanical toys and automata.
While he creates toys and automata, Rodney Peppé does not sell his creations; his works have been on display in various museums and on tour in his one-man show The Wonderful World of Rodney Peppé.

Early life

Born on 24 June 1934 in Eastbourne, England, Rodney Peppé is the twin brother of Mark and son of Lionel Hill Peppé and Winifred Vivienne. Although born in Eastbourne, due to the career of Lionel in the British Royal Navy and Royal Indian Navy the family lived in India near the Himalaya Mountains during the children's early years. In 1942 when Vivienne returned with the twins to Eastbourne, Rodney and his brother Mark were enrolled in boarding school at St Bede's School, Sussex.
After achieving a National Diploma in Design in 1958 from the Eastbourne School of Art, and a Diploma in Illustration in 1959 from the London County Council Central School of Arts and Crafts, Rodney Peppé was soon employed and married.

Early career

Before publishing his first children's book The Alphabet Book in 1968, Rodney Peppé was employed as an art director for S. H. Benson and J. Walter Thompson in 1960, a consultant designer for Ross Foods Ltd. in 1965, and as a freelance graphic designer and illustrator in 1965.

Personal life

Rodney Peppé married textile artist Tordis Tatjana Tekkel on 16 July 1960. They have two sons, Christen Rodney and Jonathan Noel. After marriage and children, Rodney Peppé and his family have lived in various locations in England including Surrey, Whiteway, and Torquay.

''Huxley Pig'' series

Two of Rodney Peppé's children's book series have been adapted for animated television.
In a 1982 episode of The Friendly Giant Circus Fun, the Giant reads aloud from the book Circus Numbers.