Rene Cloke

Since the name of Rene Cloke came up yesterday, and she is also amongst our Robin Annual artists, I thought I'd see what I could find...

Rene Cloke was born Irene Mabel N. Cloke in Plymouth on 8 October 1904. According to the Dictionary of British Book Illustrators, she "works as a postcard and greetings card designer, and as an author and illustrator of stories for very young children ... mainly depicting nursery animals and pixies."

As well as her books, she also produced illustrations for many annuals, including Uncle Oojah's Big Annual, Blackie's Children's Annual, Tiny Tots Annual, Jack and Jill Annual, Playhour Annual and Jack and Jill Harold Hare Book. She also contributed to Sunny Stories.

Rene Cloke lived at 31 Bernard Gardens, Wimbledon S.W19 from at least 1958 onwards. She died on 1 October 1995, aged 91.

Sadly, not a lot of information for someone whose career extended from at least the mid-1930s to the mid-1990s, who had work published in seven different decades and whose work is still (at least as of 2003) being reprinted.

Although the list of books below is fairly extensive, I suspect there are other books that remain unlisted and some books may be retitled or adapted versions of earlier books. I'm also a little shaky about which editions of various Enid Blyton books she illustrated (first editions of later editions?) and I've tried to err on the side of caution. Some images from covers of various Blyton books can be found at Heather's Blyton Pages.

Books (illus. by the author unless noted)
Mr Podge of Oaktree Lodge. Bognor Regis & London, John Crowther, 1943.
Chickweed. Leicester, Edmund Ward, 1947.
Joy Bells Picture and Story Book. London, Juvenile Productions, 1949.
Before We Go To Bed. London, Juvenile Productions, 1953.
The Little Roundabout Horse. London & Glasgow, Blackie & Son, 1954.
Tippety is Snowed Up. London & Glasgow, Blackie & Son, 1954.
Barnaby's Cuckoo Clock. Exeter, Wheaton, 1958.
Merry's New Hat. Exeter, Wheaton, 1958.
Paul Piglet Keeps Shop. London & Glasgow, Blackie, 1960.
Popkyn the Pedlar. London & Glasgow, Blackie, 1960.
Snowy For Sale. London & Glasgow, Blackie, 1961.
Adventure in Acorn Wood. London & Glasgow, Blackie, 1962.
Little Darling Book series. London, Sandle Bros., 4 vols., 1964.
Dragonfly Story Books series:
__The Big Race. Exeter, Wheaton, 1966.
__Filbert Builds a Boat. Exeter, Wheaton, 1966.
__The Letter. Exeter, Wheaton, 1966.
__Roddy in the Rain. Exeter, Wheaton, 1966.
__The Sleepy Visitors. Exeter, Wheaton, 1966.
__The Twins Go to Market. Exeter, Wheaton, 1966.
__The Walking Holiday. Exeter, Wheaton, 1966.
__The Wishing Well. Exeter, Wheaton, 1966.
A Posy of Little Verses, illus. Adolf Zabransky. London, Hamlyn, 1967.
No Dogs Please!. Exeter, Haldon Books, Sep 1967.
The Happy Seasons. Poems for the young, illus. by Adolf Zabransky. London, Hamlyn, 1968.
Music in the Meadow, and other verses, illus. by Adolf Zabransky. London, Hamlyn, 1968.
The Brave Tin Soldier by Hans Andersen, retold by Rene Cloke. London, Dean, 1969.
Woodland Stories. London, Award Publications, 1975.
I Can Read a Rainbow. London, Award Publications, 1976.
ABC Counting Book. London, Award Publications, 1977?
Rene Cloke's Bedtime Book of Fairytales and Rhymes. London, Award Publications, 1978.
Brer Rabbit's Colour Book. London, Award Publications, 1988.
Brer Rabbit's Puzzle Book. London, Award Publications, 1988.
Tales of Hopping Wood series:
__Tufty's Pot of Paint. London, Award, 1988.
__Flipperty's Aeroplane. London, Award, 1988.
__Larry's Caravan. London, Award, 1988.
Tales of Oaktree Wood series:
__Rusty's House. London, Award, 1989.
__Mandy's Umbrella. London, Award, 1990.
__Spindle's Picnic. London, Award, 1990.
__Vicky's New Hat. London, Award, 1990.

Woodland Tales, London, Award Publications, 2003.

Illustrated Books
The Children's Hour. Stories, jigsaws & painting, illus. with others. London, Daily Express Publications, 1935.
Bible Painting Books no. 1-4. Wallington, Religious Education Press, 1941.
Bible Painting Books no. 5-8, ed. E. H. Hayes. Wallington, Religious Education Press, 1942.
Bible Story Picture Books: Jesus Our Friend, ed. Bertha C. Krall. Wallington, Carwal Publications, 1943.
Red Riding Hood Goes to the Teddy Bears' Picnic by Bey Royle. Bognor Regis & London, John Crowther, 1943.
The Ugly Duckling by Hans Christian Andersen. Leicester, Edmund Ward, 1943.
Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. London, P. R. Gawthorn, 1944.
The Nightingale by Hans Andersen. Leicester, Edmund Ward, 1945.
Amelia Jane Again! by Enid Blyton. London, Dean, 1946.
The Balloon in the Tree; and, The Very Strange Pool by Enid Blyton. London, Sampson Low, 1946.
Favourite Stories from Hans Andersen, with an introduction by Roger Lancelyn Green. Leicester, Edmund Ward, 1947.
Grimms' Fairy Tales. London, P. R. Gawthorn, 1947.
The Sleeping Beauty and other tales, retold by Roger Lacelyn Green, Leicester, Edmund Ward, 1947.
Beauty and the Beast, and other tales, retold by Roger Lancelyn Green. Leicester, Edmund Ward, 1948.
Little Boy Blue Nursery Rhymes and Fairy Tales. London, Juvenile Productions, 1949.
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. London, P. R. Gawthorn, 1949?
Favourite Hymn Painting Book, ed. Ernest H. Hayes. Wallington, Religious Education Press, 1950.
Gospel Stories Painting Book. Wallington, Religious Education Press, 1950.
Three Little Nursery Rhymes. London, Juvenile Productions, 1950.
Through the Looking-Glass and what Alice found by Lewis Carroll. London, 1951.
Punch and Judy Annual. London, Juvenile Productions, c.1951.
Three Little Kittens. Nursery rhymes. London, Juvenile Productions, 1952.
Pantomime Stories. London & Melbourne, Ward, Lock & Co., 1953.
Birds of the River by Mary Kerr. Leicester, Edmund Ward, 1959.
A Play at Pebblings Village by Modwena Sedgwick. London, Burke, 1960.
My First Reading Book of Fairy Stories. London, Kingfisher Colour Books, 1960.
My First Reading Book of Fairy Tales. London, Kingfisher Colour Books, 1960.
Bible Stories from the Old Testament and the Life of Jesus. London, Ward Lock (All Colour Picture Book 8), 1961.
The Lord Jesus. Wallington, Religious Education Press, 1961.
Good News. Wallington, Religious Education Press, 1961.
Jesus, Friend of All. Wallington, Religious Education Press, 1961.
Stories From the Bible. Wallington, Religious Education Press, 1961.
Pat-a-Cake Nursery Rhymes. Paulton, Purnell, 1961.
Little Folks' Book of Nursery Rhymes. London, Frederick Warne & Co., 1962.
Little Folk's Book of Nursery Tales. London, Frederick Warne & Co., 1963.
Little Folk's First Book, ed. Kate Burchell. London, 1964.
The Wild Swans. London & Melbourne, Ward Lock & Co. (Kingfisher Colour Book 14), 1965.
Little Folk's Second Book, ed. Kate Burchell. London, 1966.
Crossword Painting Books. Wallington, Religious Education Press, 1966- .
Fairies and Giants. Three favourite stories for children. London, Collins, 1967.
My Bumper Book of Colour Fairy Stories. London, Warwick Press, 1968.
The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Andersen; retold by Rene Cloke. London, Dean, 1968.
The Adventures of Mr Pink-Whistle by Enid Blyton. London, Dean, 1969.
Fairyland Tales (includes Canterbury Bells by Rene Cloke). London, Collins, 1969.
My Favourite Book of Fairy Stories. London, Ward Lock, 1969.
Naughty Amelia Jane by Enid Blyton. London, Dean, 1969.
Puss in Boots, retold by Rene Cloke. London, Dean, 1969.
The Three Golliwogs by Enid Blyton. London, Dean & Son, 1969.
Weather in Britain by L. G. Humphrys. Oxford, Basil Blackwell, 1969.
Jack and the Beanstalk, retold by Antony Camden. London, Sandle Brothers (Tulip-Colour Books 1), 1969?
Babes in the Wood. London, Sandle Brothers (Tulip-Colour Books 2), 1969?
Red Riding Hood, retold by Antony Camden. London, Sandle Brothers/Ward Lock & Co., 1969?
Aladdin, and other stories, retold by Antony Camden. London, Sandle Brothers/Ward Lock & Co., 1969.
Dick Whittington, retold by Antony Camden. London, Sandle Brothers/Ward Lock & Co. (Tulip-Colour Books 7), 1969.
Jack and the Beanstalk, retold by Rene Cloke. London, Dean, 1970.
Mister Meddle's Mischief by Enid Blyton. London, Dean, 1970.
Mister Meddle's Muddles by Enid Blyton. London, Dean, 1970.
Mr Pink-Whistle Interferes by Enid Blyton. London, Dean, 1970.
My Picture Book of Rhymes. London, Dean, 1970.
Sleeping Beauty. London, Dean, 1970.
Nursery Rhymes. London, Dean, 1972.
Enid Blyton's Everyday Book of Goodnight Stories by Enid Blyton. London, Dean, 1975.
Enid Blyton's Everyday Book of Playtime Stories by Enid Blyton. London, Dean, 1975.
Enid Blyton's Everyday Book of Sleepytime Stories by Enid Blyton. London, Dean, 1975.
Enid Blyton's Everyday Book of Twilight Stories by Enid Blyton. London, Dean, 1975.
Hans Andersen Stories. London, Award, 1975.
My First Picture Book of Tales of Hans Christian Andersen. 1975; as Hans Andersen Fairy Tales, London, Award, 1996.
Nursery Stories. London, Award, 1975.
Toddler's Picture Book. London, Award, 1975.
My First Picture Book of Fairy Tales. 1976; as Favourite Fairy Tales, London, Award, 1996.
My First Picture Book of Nursery Rhymes. London, Award Publications, 1976.
My First Picture Book of Telling the Time. London, Award Publications, 1976.
Enid Blyton's Gift Book of Bedtime Stories (some illus. from Enid Blyton's Everyday Book series). London, Dean, 1978.
Brer Rabbit Stories by Joel Chandler Harris. London, Award, 1982.
More Brer Rabbit Stories by Joel Chandler Harris. London, Award, 1982.
The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse. London, Award, 1982.
My Big Book of Brer Rabbit Stories by Joel Chandler Harris. London, Award, 1983.
Bible Stories for Children. London, Award, 1984.
The Greedy Rabbit and other stories by Enid Blyton. London, Award Publications, 1985.
Kenneth Grahame's The Wind in the Willows, adapted by Michael Bishop. London, Award, 1985; later reissued as a series of sticker books, The Wind in the Willows: The River Bank, The Wind in the Willows: The Wild Wood, London, Award, 1997.
The Little Match Girl and other stories. London, Award, 1985; as Storyland Classics, London, Award, 1998.
Storyland. Classic tales for children, retold by Howard Hall. London, Award, 1985.
What No Cheese!; and, The Lambikin by Enid Blyton. London, Award, 1985?
Classic Fairy Tales. Manchester, Cliveden Press, 1986.
Brer Rabbit Again by Joel Chandler Harris, retold by Enid Blyton. London, Award, 1987.
More Bible Stories, retold by Jane Carruth. London, Award, 1987; revised as More Bible Stories for Children, London, Award, 1995.
Little Treasury of The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame, retold by Tina Rose. Worksop, Award, 1988.
Pipes for Old Puff; and, The Little Down Cushion by Enid Blyton. London, Award, 1988.
Cathy Dresses Up (Dressing Book). London, Award Publications, 1989.
Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland, adapted by Jane Carruth. London, Award Publications, 1990.
Mr Twiddle Stories (contains Hello, Mr Twiddle! and Well, Really, Mr Twiddle!). London, Red Fox, 1990.
Pinocchio. London, Award Publications, 1990.
Cinderella. London, Award Publications, 1991.
Little Red Riding Hood. London, Award Publications, 1991.
Mr Toad Comes Home, from Kenneth Grahame's The Wind in the Willows, adapted by Jane Carruth. London, Award, 1993.
The Conjuring Wizard; and, Snippitty's Shears by Enid Blyton. London, Award, 1994.
The Lucky Green Pea by Enid Blyton. London, Award, 1994.
The Pixies and the Primroses; and, Upadee and the Dragon by Enid Blyton. London, Award, 1994.
The Rude Little Rabbit by Enid Blyton. London, Award, 1994.
The Squirrel and the Pixie; and, Dame Thimble and Her Matches by Enid Blyton. London, Award, 1994.
The Tale of Scissors the Gnome; and, How Derry the Dormouse Lost His Secret by Enid Blyton. London, Award, 1994.
Three Bold Pixies and other stories by Enid Blyton. London, Award, 1994.
The Adventures of Mr Toad from Kenneth Grahame's The Wind in the Willows, adapted by Jane Carruth. London, Award, 1995.
Little Otter is Missing from Kenneth Grahame's The Wind in the Willows, adapted by Jane Carruth. London, Award, 1995.
The Crown of Gold by Enid Blyton. London, Award, 1995.
The Sailor Doll Goes to Sea; and, The Meddlesome Butterfly by Enid Blyton. London, Award Publications, 1996.
Big-Eyes the Enchanter; and, The Squirrel and the Pixie. London, Award, 1998.
Fairyland Classics, retold by Jane Carruth. London, Award, 1998.
The Child Jesus Painting Book. Norwich, n.d.
Jesus the Children's Friend Painting Book. Norwich, n.d.
Children of the Bible Painting Book. Norwich, n.d.
Tales of Jesus Painting Book. Norwich, n.d.
Followers of Jesus Painting Book. Norwich, n.d.
Friends of Jesus Painting Book. Norwich, n.d.
Favourite Bible Stories Painting Book. Norwich, n.d.