Pamela Kay Allen MNZM AM (née Griffiths; born 3 April 1934) is a New Zealand children's writer and illustrator. She has published over 50 picture books since 1980. Sales of her books have exceeded five million copies.
Pamela Allen | |
|---|---|
| Born | Pamela Kay Griffiths 3 April 1934 Devonport, New Zealand |
| Occupation | Writer and illustrator |
| Period | 1980–present |
| Genre | Children's picture books |
Early life and family
editBorn in the Auckland suburb of Devonport in 1934 to Esma Eileen (née Griffith) and William Ewart Griffiths,[1][2] Allen studied at St Cuthbert's College,[3] then the Elam School of Fine Arts at the University of Auckland, from where she graduated with a Diploma of Fine Arts in 1955.[4] She then worked as a secondary school art teacher.[5] She married sculptor Jim Allen in 1964.[6] They moved to Sydney in about 1977,[7] and after about 30 years returned to live in Auckland, New Zealand.[8][9][10]
Writing career
editAllen published her first book, Mr Archimedes' Bath, in 1980.[5] Since then she has written and illustrated more than 30 picture books for children.[11]
She has won or been shortlisted for many awards as both a writer and illustrator. She won the Children's Book Council of Australia's Children's Picture Book of The Year Award in 1983 for Who Sank the Boat?[5] and 1984 for Bertie and the Bear,[5] and has been shortlisted for the same award on five other occasions.[11] She twice won the Ethel Turner Prize in the New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards, in 1980 for Mr Archimedes' Bath[5] and 1983 for Who Sank the Boat?.[12]
Allen was awarded the International Board on Books for Young People honour diploma for illustration, for Who Sank the Boat?, in 1984.[13]
In 1986, she received the Library and Information Association of New Zealand Aotearoa Russell Clark Illustration Award for her illustrations in A Lion in the Night.[14]
In 2001, Who Sank The Boat?, first published in 1982, won the Gaelyn Gordon Award—given to the author of a New Zealand children's book that has been a favourite with children over a long period of time—from the New Zealand Book Council.[11][15]
Allen returned to live in Auckland and in 2004 she won the Margaret Mahy Medal, New Zealand's top children's literature prize.[11][16] In the 2005 New Year Honours, she was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to children's literature.[17]
Eight of her books have been adapted for the stage by Patch Theatre Company and performed at the Sydney Opera House.[18]
Allen's daughter, Ruth Allen, a Melbourne-based glass sculptor,[7][18] was commissioned by Penguin Australia in 2008 to create an artwork to celebrate sales of over five million copies of Allen's books.[19]
Allen was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in the 2024 Australia Day Honours for her "significant service to literature as an author".[20]
Bibliography
edit
- Mr Archimedes' Bath (1980)
- Who Sank the Boat? (1982)
- Bertie and the Bear (1983)
- A Lion in the Night (1985)
- Herbert and Harry (1986)
- Mr McGee (1987)
- Fancy That! (1988)
- I Wish I Had A Pirate Suit (1989)
- My Cat Maisie (1990)
- Black Dog (1991)
- Belinda (1992)
- Mr McGee Goes to Sea (1992)
- Mr McGee and the Blackberry Jam (1993)
- Alexander's Outing (1993)
- Clippity-Clop (1994)
- Waddle Giggle Gargle (1996)
- The Bear's Lunch (1997)
- Mr McGee and the Biting Flea (1998)
- Mr McGee and the Perfect Nest (1999)
- The Pear in the Pear Tree (1999)
- Inside Mary Elizabeth's House (2000)
- Can You Keep a Secret? (2000)
- Brown Bread and Honey (2001)
- The Potato People (2001)
- Daisy All-Sorts (2002)
- Cuthbert's Babies (2003)
- Grandpa and Thomas (2003)
- Where's the Gold (2005)
- My First ABC (2006)
- Grandpa and Thomas and the Green Umbrella (2006)
- Shhh! Little Mouse (2007)
- Felix (2008)
- The Toymaker and the Bird (2009)
- Hetty's Day Out (2010)
- Mr McGee and the Elephants (2012)
Further reading
edit- Morley, Sarah (Spring 2020). "Mr Archimedes MOVES IN" (PDF). SL Magazine. 13 (3). State Library of New South Wales: 48–51.
References
edit- ^ "Births". The New Zealand Herald. 5 April 1934. p. 1. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
- ^ "Interview with Pamela Allen". Christchurch City Libraries. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
- ^ "Old Girls' Honours". 2004.
- ^ "NZ university graduates 1870–1961". Retrieved 17 August 2014.
- ^ a b c d e Scobie, Susan, ed. (1997). The Dromkeen Book of Australian Children's Illustrators. Scholastic Australia. pp. 14–16. ISBN 1863886958.
- ^ "Pamela Allen". Penguin Random House. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
- ^ a b Wilder, Gabriel (11 August 2012). "Message in a bottle". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
- ^ "Pamela Allen on writing for children". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 4 November 2013. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
- ^ "Interview with Pamela Allen". christchurchcitylibraries.com/. Christchurch City Libraries. 2002. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
- ^ "Allen Pamela". bookcouncil.org.nz. New Zealand Book Council. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
- ^ a b c d "Allen, Pamela". New Zealand Book Council. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
- ^ "Pamela Allen". Storylines Children's Literature Charitable Trust. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
- ^ "About Pamela Allen". QBD The Bookshop. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
- ^ "LIANZA Russell Clark Illustration Award Recipients". lianza.org.nz. LIANZA. Archived from the original on 1 April 2016. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
- ^ "Awards and grants". New Zealand Book Council. Archived from the original on 19 September 2014. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
- ^ "Allen wins Margaret Mahy children's literature award". The New Zealand Herald. 22 January 2004. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
- ^ "New Year honours list 2005". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 2004. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
- ^ a b Thomas-Zucker, Julie (19 February 2012). "Biography Pamela Allen". Humanities 360. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
- ^ "The Boat". Ruth Allen Glass Sculptor. Archived from the original on 18 October 2014. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
- ^ "Mrs Pamela Kay Allen". Australian Honours Search Facility. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
External links
edit- Pamela Allen pictorial material and papers, 1974-2016, manuscripts, audio cassettes, video recordings, etchings and illustrations, State Library of New South Wales.