16 October 2011Last updated at 02:22

In pictures: Jacqueline Wilson

An exhibition examining the life and work of the author Dame Jacqueline Wilson has opened at the Seven Stories children's book centre in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. It includes a mock-up of her childhood council flat bedroom, in which she dreamt up her first stories. Photo: Barry Pells.

It includes rarely-seen notebooks and manuscripts, including the first story she ever wrote, The Maggots (left) - which she composed at the age of nine - and the handwritten manuscript for her novel Best Friends.

Original artwork by illustrator Nick Sharratt is also on show. Other books featured in the exhibition include The Story of Tracy Beaker, The Illustrated Mum, Best Friends, The Suitcase Kid, My Sister Jody, Cliffhanger and Hetty Feather.

The author is best-known for her Tracy Beaker books and has sold more than 30 million books in the UK. She was the most borrowed author from UK libraries from 2000-2009 and was the Children's Laureate from 2005-2007. Photo: Barry Pells.

Dame Jacqueline said she had been "delving into basements and garages and finding long forgotten childhood stories and old manuscripts and mementos". The exhibition runs at Seven Stories until September 2012.

Entertainment & Arts

In pictures: Jacqueline Wilson

Share this page

Related Stories

Related Internet links

Services

About BBC News