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Ann James Ann James i(A9511 works by) (a.k.a. Ann Catherine Stewart James)
Born: Established: 1952 Melbourne, Victoria, ;
Gender: Female
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BiographyHistory

Ann James grew up in Ringwood, Victoria, and was educated at Norwood Primary School and Tintern Girls School.

An illustrator who trained as an arts and crafts teacher, James taught at Doveton and Ringwood High Schools before being seconded to the Publications Branch of the Education Department of Victoria where she worked as a graphic designer and illustrator of educational publications from 1978.

James's involvement with children's books began when she entered a competition with colleague Gwenda Smythe for unpublished authors and illustrators in 1981. The book they entered was A Pet for Mrs Arbuckle and it launched her into a successful career in illustration. James has illustrated for many well known Australian authors and is perhaps best known for her design and illustration of Robin Klein's four Penny Pollard books, which were published between 1983 and 1988. Whilst working with the Penny Pollard books, James found time to illustrate numerous other books, including Bernice Knows Best, by Max Dann, for which she won the Children's Book Council of Australia Junior Book of the Year Award in 1984. She has since had many of her illustrated books shortlisted for awards.

James also co-directs Books Illustrated, a gallery which has year-round exhibitions solely devoted to children's books. There are exhibitions of original illustrations by Australian children's book illustrators, and schools and college groups visit for tours, talks and demonstrations by illustrators. James has also published a book on illustrating, Making Pictures: Techniques for Illustrating Children's Books (with Ann Haddon, 1996).

Most Referenced Works

Personal Awards

2020 nominated Hans Christian Andersen Award (Switzerland) Illustrator
2016 recipient Order of Australia Member of the Order of Australia (AM) For significant service to children's literature as an author and illustrator, and through advocacy roles with literacy and professional bodies.
2002 Dromkeen Medal

Awards for Works

y separately published work icon I'm a Dirty Dinosaur : Hide and Seek Camberwell : Puffin , 2022 24954603 2022 single work picture book children's

'Everyone’s favourite muddy little dinosaur is back. Pre-schoolers will love to play hide and seek and look for Dirty Dinosaur and friends in this bright, fun lift-the-flap board book.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

2023 shortlisted Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Awards Birth to 3 Years
y separately published work icon Goodbye House, Hello House Crows Nest : Allen and Unwin , 2019 15990677 2019 single work picture book children's

'This is the last time I'll fish in this river. This is the last time I'll run through these trees. This is the last time I'll dream by this fire. . . Goodbye, old house. Goodbye.

'A heart-warming story of letting go and starting anew, of moving from the country to the city, with a unique illustration style that allows room and space for the reader's imagination. Hello, new house. Hello!'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

2020 honour book CBCA Book of the Year Awards Book of the Year: Early Childhood
2020 CBCA Book of the Year Awards Notable Book Early Childhood
y separately published work icon A Very Quacky Christmas Sydney : HarperCollins Australia , 2017 12139593 2017 single work picture book children's

We wish you a quacky Christmas …' Samantha Duck is getting ready for Christmas. ‘I'm going to give presents to animals all over the world!' Her friend Sebastian tells her not to bother. ‘Christmas is not for animals,' he says. But with the help of her farmyard friends, Samantha sets out to prove that Christmas is for everyone. A joyous tale of giving and sharing from two award-winning Australian creators.'  (Publication summary)

2018 CBCA Book of the Year Awards Notable Book Picture Book of the Year
Last amended 13 Feb 2020 10:53:20
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