Miffy turns 60 this year!
Miffy was “born” on 21 June 1955 when Dick Bruna first drew her to entertain his young son whilst on a rainy seaside holiday in Holland. She shares her birthday with Prince William, and was born in the same year as Rowan Atkinson, Kevin Costner, Bruce Willis, Olga Corbet and Bill Gates.
The Miffy books are now published in more than 50 languages and have sold more than 85 million copies worldwide. As well as starring in her own TV series, musical and movie, Miffy also appears on merchandise across five continents.
‘miffy’, the first book in the much loved series, was published in 1955, and over 30 Miffy more stories have followed. To celebrate her 60th anniversary in 2015, Dick Bruna’s Miffy stories are being refreshed for a modern British audience, with newly translated texts by award winning British poet, Tony Mitton.
This month ‘miffy is crying’ and ‘miffy and melanie’ are due to be republished, and lots more Miffy books are set to be published later this year including ‘miffy at the playground’ and ‘queen miffy’ in February, a special 60th anniversary edition of ‘miffy’s birthday’ in June and ‘miffy at the seaside’ & ‘miffy in the tent’ in July. A fun set of Miffy activity books will also be published through the year. This follows on from the selection of the books that were republished last year, including ‘miffy at the gallery’ and ‘miffy and the new baby’.
Miffy might have changed a little over the years, but the principles that make her loved across the world have stayed the same. The same simple, bright colours are used: red, yellow, blue and green. And there is still a strong black outline – painted with a brush rather than drawn with a pen.
Miffy will be celebrating her birthday throughout 2015, through exhibitions, a new musical, a TV show, commemorative stamps, floral displays and children’s parties.
In the UK, Miffy is partnering with premature baby charity Bliss, to raise funds for the one in nine babies and their families that require its support every year, and you can read more about this HERE. Activity will culminate over her birthday weekend, 20–21st June 2015.
Don’t forget to wish Miffy a happy birthday! She’d love to hear from you!
Miffy Blogs 
