Some Favorite Aussie Children’s Authors and Their Web Sites
The Aussie author/illustrator Web sites I have listed below are some of my favorites and are about people whom I have heard talk about their writing and/or their illustrations.
|
Mem Fox |
 |
 |
Paul Jennings Paul Jennings once told me that he makes up the endings of his stories first, then goes back and writes the rest. Paul has written many books for 8- to 10-year-olds. In one series all the books begin with "Un"--Unbelievable, Unbearable, Uncanny, and many others. Paul began writing because, as a teacher, he was concerned that there seemed to be few resources available to engage the reluctant 8- to 10-year-old male reader. His books are very successful at doing just that. |
| Jeannie Baker Jeannie Baker is an author and illustrator. Her illustrations are collages and are quite amazing. Most of her books have a strong environmental theme and are wonderful to use as the central focus of an environmental issues unit. Where the Forest Meets the Sea is about the Daintree Rain Forest in the northeast of Australia. I have seen teachers use this book for discussion about what happens when people begin to interfere with fragile ecological systems like rain forests. |
 |
Gary Crew
Gary Crew is a prolific writer for older children. Watertower is one of his picture books that leads to much discussion. What is it really about? I have never quite worked it out but have had some great discussions trying. This site also lists many other Australian authors and illustrators of children's books.
 |
Libby Gleeson Libby Gleeson writes picture books for young children, as well as books for older children. Her books have won many awards and address a variety of topics. Hannah Plus One, written for young children, won the Children’s Book Council Award in 1997, and Hannah and the Tomorrow Room won an Honor Award from the Children’s Book Council in 2000. Libby has also shared the notes and diary she kept when writing the Hannah books in Writing Hannah: On Writing for Children. Children can e-mail Libby from a link her on Web site. |
| Morris Gleitzman Morris Gleitzman likes to write about serious subjects in a humorous way. He writes for the junior audience and has co-authored a series with Paul Jennings. My 8-year-old nephew loves these books. Morris has a fun Web site for children and teachers. Go visit. I am sure you will love his books. |
 |
| Margaret Wild and Ron Brooks Margaret Wild, author, and Ron Brooks, illustrator, have teamed up to produce a most compelling book, called Fox. And what an interesting book it is. The illustrations enhance the text in ways that allow for multiple meanings. Margaret says, "As I don't give readers any information about Fox's background, they have to work out for themselves why Fox is the way he is." And what discussions occur as a result! |
 |
 |
Ron Brooks illustrated one of my all time favorite books, John Brown, Rose and the Midnight Cat, written by Jenny Wagner. The language of this book is simple but powerful and Ron's illustrations bring Rose to life for me. I have read this book to countless groups of teachers and preservice teachers and have always ended up with a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye. |
These are but a few sites for Australian authors. Once you have begun to explore these I am sure there will be links to others. Many teachers plan author studies, and I hope they include asking their students to explore the Internet to see what they can find out about authors.
If anyone reading this from another country would like to send me Web sites for authors in their country I will be happy to post them to be shared by others.
Happy reading.
To print this article, point and click with your mouse anywhere on its text; then use your browser’s print command.
Citation: Turbill, J. (2001, October). Some favorite Aussie children's authors and their Web sites. Reading Online, 5(3). Available: http://www.readingonline.org/international/inter_index.asp?HREF=turbill3/index.html