How much do you know about beloved children's author Jaqueline Wilson? We've put together 15 top facts about the creator of Tracy Beaker, so find out which one is your favourite! Learn where she's from, what her first book was called, and why she's one of the most borrowed authors in the UK! And if you liked this, check out more Jaqueline Wilson with this top ten book list! Or how about this Jaqueline Wilson quote quiz? And are you ready to tackle a Dumping Ground Character quiz?

1. She's From Kingston Upon Thames in the UK

Jaqueline Wilson was born on the 17th December, 1945, in Bath, Somerset, but grew up in Kingston Upon Thames. Jaqueline says she had a bit of an unhappy childhood - she grew up on a council estate and her parents often argued.

2. Jaqueline Loved Reading Growing Up

Reading was Jaqueline's escape when she was a child. She says some of her favourite books were classics like What Katy Did, Little Women and books by Enid Blyton. In fact, Jaqueline loved reading so much that her mum asked the library to let her join before she was even old enough!

3. She Wrote Her First Book Aged 9

Jaqueline had been making up her own stories all her life, and when she was 9 years old, she wrote her first 'book' - called 'Meet the Maggots' which was 21 pages long! Apparently it was about a family with seven children - Jaqueline liked to write about big families because she was an only child.

4. A Magazine Was (Maybe) Named After Her

After she left school at 16, Jaqueline first trained as a secretary, and then got a job working for Dundee based magazine Jackie (published by the same company who makes the Beano!). There is a rumour that this new girls magazine was actually named after Jaqueline, but no one's quite sure if its true!

5. Her First Book Was Published in 1972

Jaqueline's first published book was a novel called Hide and Seek, published in 1972. She kept writing and publishing for years after that, but it wasn't until 1991 that she had a real big hit - with The Story of Tracy Beaker. Tracy Beaker would catapult Jaqueline to fame and make her a household name in children's books. She followed it up with successes like The Illustrated Mum, Double Act and The Lottie Project.

6. She's Written Over 100 Books!

Jaqueline has never stopped writing! In fact, she's written over 100 books! Some of these are standalone classics, and others, like the Girls series for teens, are a series. Jaqueline says she can't stop writing - even when she wants to, she can't help it!

7. Lots of Jaqueline's Books Have Been Made into TV Shows

Jaqueline's books have been so successful that they've been made into lots of TV shows over the years, including Girls, The Illustrated Mum, The Story of Tracy Beaker, Hetty Feather and Double Act. Double Act was the first one - all the way back in 2002!

8. Tracey Beaker is One of Her Most Famous Creations

Tracy Beaker is one of the most famous characters in British literature, and she's been part of the childhoods of thousands of kids. The Story of Tracy Beaker tells the tale of Tracy, who lives in a care home and makes up inventive stories about herself. The book was also made into a TV show, a spin off, and, most recently My Mum Tracy Beaker, about a grown up Tracy and her own daughter.

9. Jaqueline Often Works With Nick Sharrett

If you know Jaqueline's work, you probably recognise Nick's work too! He's illustrated most of Jaqueline's books over the years, and his drawings are so synonymous with her work that it was even included in the TV version of Tracy Beaker! They worked together for 30 years.

10. She's Won Lots of Awards

Jaqueline's books have won lots of awards and accolades over the years, including the Smarties Prize, the British Book Awards and the Guardian Children's Prize for Fiction. She's also been the Children's Laureate, a role which helps promote reading for children.

11. She's Sold Over 40 Million Books

If you needed any more convincing that Jaqueline is very popular, she's sold over 40 million books in the UK ALONE! She's also had her work translated into over 30 languages!

12. She's One of the Most Borrowed Authors in the UK

Jaqueline would probably be really happy to know that her books are some of the most borrowed at British libraries! She knows first-hand the importance of libraries and children having access to books they might not otherwise be able to afford!

13. She Loves Writing About the Past

Although lots of Jaqueline's books are about modern issues and children, she also loves writing about the past, particularly the Victorian era. This is because she finds the era really interesting, but also because she doesn't need to keep up with the latest trends to write about it! There's no TikTok in the 19th century!

14. She's a Dame

As well as being awarded an OBE in 2002, in 2008 she was made a Dame by the Queen! This is the female equivalent of being knighted. She also has a lecture hall at Kingston University in her hometown names after her.

15. She Thinks Its Important to Write About Real Life

Jaqueline's books often tackle big issues, which can sometimes be scary for children, like mental health, divorce, bullying and relationships. She thinks its really important to talk about these things, even if they can be controversial, because some of her readers will be going through these experiences, and it's good for them to know they're not alone. We couldn't agree more!