Jane Hissey (born 1945) is a British author, illustrator, and former schoolteacher best known for creating the Old Bear series of children’s picture books. Her work has been translated into multiple languages and adapted for television, contributing significantly to contemporary British children's literature.
Early life and education
Jane Hissey was born in Yorkshire, England, in 1945. She trained as a teacher, earning qualifications in primary education before embarking on a career as a classroom teacher. Details of her early artistic training are not extensively documented.
Career
While working as a primary school teacher, Hissey began illustrating stories for her students. In the early 1980s she developed a series of picture books featuring an anthropomorphic teddy bear named Old Bear and his companions, including Little Owls, Bramwell Brown, and others. The first book, Old Bear (1986), was published by Walker Books and received critical acclaim for its gentle narrative style and distinctive, soft watercolor illustrations.
The Old Bear series expanded to include titles such as Old Bear and the Camping Trip (1990), Old Bear and the Garden (1994), and Old Bear’s Birthday (1997). The books emphasize themes of friendship, imagination, and the comforting presence of a beloved toy.
In 1993, the Old Bear books were adapted into the television series Old Bear Stories (also known as Old Bear and Friends), produced by the BBC and aired internationally. The series won a BAFTA award for Best Children's Programme (Factual) in 1998.
Hissey has also authored and illustrated other children's books, though the Old Bear series remains her most prominent contribution. Her works are noted for their warm, expressive animal characters and understated, pastel palette.
Awards and honors
- BAFTA, Best Children’s Programme (Factual), 1998 (as author/illustrator of source material)
- Multiple nominations for the Carnegie Medal and the Kate Greenaway Medal (British children's book awards)
Personal life
Hissey resides in the United Kingdom. She has occasionally participated in school and library reading sessions, emphasizing the role of picture books in early literacy. Specific details about her private life are limited in publicly available sources.
Legacy
Jane Hissey’s Old Bear books have remained in continuous print for over three decades, influencing generations of young readers and illustrators. The series' emphasis on gentle storytelling and the emotional bond between child and toy is regarded as a hallmark of late 20th‑century British picture books.
