AustLit logo
Deborah Kelly Deborah Kelly i(A152142 works by)
Gender: Female
The material on this page is available to AustLit subscribers. If you are a subscriber or are from a subscribing organisation, please log in to gain full access. To explore options for subscribing to this unique teaching, research, and publishing resource for Australian culture and storytelling, please contact us or find out more.

BiographyHistory

Deborah Kelly was raised on a farm in New Zealand, where her family grew green beans and garlic. She studied Marine Biology at James Cook University in Queensland and has since lived and worked in Japan and Scotland. Her passion for art, film, books and writing began in her early childhood. Kelly wrote her first series of picture books (which she still has) when she was seven! Her first published book, The Bounding Ball (with Georgia Perry) was released by Random House in 2013.

Most Referenced Works

Personal Awards

2019 recipient Australia Council Grants, Awards and Fellowships

Arts Projects For Individuals and Groups $50,000.00

Awards for Works

y separately published work icon The Thing about Oliver Capalaba : Wombat Books , 2019 18589501 2019 single work children's fiction children's

'When I'm a famous marine scientist I'll live on a boat by myself. I'll snorkel on the reef all day long. But before I can learn to snorkel I have to be able to swim properly. And right now, I don't even own a swimsuit.

'Eleven year old Tilly dreams of becoming a marine scientist. But she lives in a drought stricken town with her mum and younger brother Oliver, who is autistic. Oliver's meltdowns are making life unbearable. He can't cope with even the smallest of changes to his routine. On top of that, he needs so many different kinds therapy that there's never any time or money left over for swimming lessons.

'When Mum loses her job and decides to move the family to the Queensland coast, Tilly is excited and terrified all at once. Is this her chance to finally learn to swim? Will her dream of snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef come true? Or will so many changes all at once prove too much for the whole family?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

2020 shortlisted Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Awards Eight to 10 Years
2020 shortlisted CBCA Book of the Year Awards Book of the Year: Younger Readers
2020 CBCA Book of the Year Awards Notable Book Younger Readers
y separately published work icon Me and You Melbourne : Viking , 2017 10201337 2017 single work picture book children's

'A delightful rhyming picture book that celebrates all the special relationships and fun-filled activities in a child’s life, their special bonds with parents, grandparents, cousins, neighbours and pets, as well as all the wonderful fun-filled days they enjoy together: from beach and baking days, to cycling and footy-kicking or simply lazy days. This is a joyous, accessible picture book perfect for sharing with children.' (Publication summary)

2018 CBCA Book of the Year Awards Notable Book Early Childhood
2017 winner Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Awards Three to 5 Years
y separately published work icon Skydancer's Escape Capalaba : Wombat Books , 2016 9215374 2016 single work children's fiction children's

'Ruby Wishfingers is an ordinary girl with an extraordinary name. Only nobody else seems to think so. That is until Ruby Wishfingers wakes up with a strange feeling in the tips of her fingers. She soon finds out that there is far more to being a Wishfingers than having a funny name.

'Ruby can wish for whatever she wants with her wish fingers. However, she soon realises that they create more trouble than good.

'Ruby Wishfingers will take you on a magical adventure, featuring talking cats, jelly bean rain and pocket-sized unicorns.' (Publication summary)

2017 CBCA Book of the Year Awards Notable Book Younger Readers
Last amended 14 May 2019 15:42:57
Other mentions of "" in AustLit:
    X