Jeanne Willis celebrates misbehaving children and animals in 'Naughty'!
About Author
Jeanne Willis celebrates misbehaving children and animals in Naughty, a playful riot of naughtiness!
Jeanne Willis is one of our best-loved authors of children's books, and has written for television, although her earlier jobs have included being a reptile vet's assistant, and working in an advertising agency. She has two children.
Interview
September 2026
Jeanne Willis celebrates misbehaving children and mischievous animals in 'Naughty'
In this cacophony of naughtiness, Jeanne Willis and illustrator xx take a riotous look at children and animals behaving badly! At each page turn of Naughty, the misbehaviour escalates until each animal - and a boy called xx - is caught up in the dramatic unfolding of naughtiness. Or are they? Celebrated picture book author Jeanne Willis joins ReadingZone to remind us that sometimes, children just need to be children!
Review: "Naughty is a joyful, funny picture book that's a hit with little ones."- Linda, ReadingZone
ReadingZone Q&A with Jeanne Willis: Are 'naughty' children really that bad?
"Children are forever being told to shush, behave and stop messing about by adults"
1. You love writing stories about mischievous children - is this what you were like as a child?
No, I was a good girl - my sister was the naughty one. The only bad thing I did was steal a chocolate lime from a sweet counter when I was six. I felt so guilty, I just licked it, wrapped it up and took it back.
2. What happens in your new picture book, Naughty?
All the animals 'misbehave' in their own special way - but I don't think they're being naughty, they're just doing what their own species do naturally and if that means rolling a ball of poo along, good for them! Nigel just does what children do - is he really naughty? No, he's just being a child.
3. What inspired you to revisit the 'naughty step' in this riotously fun story?
Children are forever being told to shush, behave and stop messing about by adults - isn't that rather hypocritical? Adults behave far worse than children - maybe we should remember that and let them have some Loud and Silly Time (within reason, of course!)
4. Naughty has a great rhyming text - beginning with the brilliant line, 'Cat is on the naughty mat'. Was it challenging to get it right?
Thank you for saying brilliant. I don't find rhyme challenging, prose is much harder to write.
5. There's a cumulative approach, where animals also take their place on the 'naughty step': Lizard for 'sticking out his tongue'; Frog for 'croaking and for singing'; and Wasp 'for buzzing and for stinging', for example. It's very funny - but do you also think that children should be allowed to behave 'like animals' every once in a while?
Fun is in short supply these days - if you can't have fun when you're little, when can you? 'Behaving like an animal' rather depends on the creature. As a child, I behaved like a shy koala on Mondays, a fierce tiger on Tuesdays and a cheeky monkey on Wednesdays. I'm not telling you which animal I was on Thursdays because I ended up on the Naughty Step until Friday, when I was a lamb.
6. Everything gets totally out of control in Paddy Donnelly's illustrations. Were you surprised where he took the text?
Yep, I was very surprised. I almost made him sit on the Naughty Step but then I remembered he was a genius and let him play.
7. There are so many details to spot in the images, like the bunny-swallowing snake and what happens on the wallpaper - any favourites?
I like the frog's expression when he's sitting next to Beetle's dung. We've all been there.
8. How do you think children will respond to the animal's antics?
They will be shocked and horrified! Oh no, they won't! Hopefully they will cheer the animals on with great empathy and wish they could behave like that too - sadly, it's not always possible. For example, you can't swallow a whole cat if you're not a snake, they have special hinges on their jaws and are very stretchy.
9. What kinds of things make you laugh in real life?
People falling over, especially when they stagger about and take ages to go down. It's not funny if they hurt themselves though - I'd make sure they were ok, then laugh.
10. For children who enjoy Naughty, which of your other picture books might they also enjoy?
'Who's In the Loo?' 'Who Said Boo?' and 'Tadpole's Promise.'
Creative Challenge from Jeanne Willis: Pretend you are little Martians who find a human child and bring it home to keep as a pet. Assuming we look and behave differently, what do human children do that a Martian might misunderstand and find hilarious, rude or disgusting?
Organising a School Visit with Jeanne Willis: The content of my school visits differs depending on the book, but usually involves a funny power point, a story reading with interesting props and interaction, followed by a 'make' e.g. a model of the character (The Bog Baby) or a 'Happening' such as a Best-Dressed Teddy competition (The Bear Who Had Nothing to Wear) or a Spooky Party ('Who said Boo?'). Schools can get in touch via my website or email [email protected]
Naughty: A hilarious picture book for children
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