| BIOGRAPHY Original picture book artwork by Bob Graham is available for purchase from Images of Delight. In Bob’s words.. My growing up in the early 1950’s in Beverly Hills in Sydney leaves a whole confusion of images in my mind; not least the Saturday afternoon matinee at the local cinema. First the newsreel, still showing images of a recent war-torn Europe, then a B Grade support movie along with much whistling and stamping if any tender love scene were to be played out between hero and heroine. Balled-up silver chocolate wrappers looping up through the light of the cinema projector. I can still see the angry flash of the usher’s torch as it raked back and forth across the crowd, (always on the edge of anarchy.) But after the interval Hopalong Cassidy could always be relied upon to avoid all the love stuff in his relentless quest to rid the West of it’s baddies, (why did they always wear black and be none too keen on shaving?) The highlight of the afternoon was always for me the cartoon, Donald Duck, Tom and Jerry, or Mickey Mouse, and is it any wonder that along with the traditional children’s books coming out of Europe I was also an avid reader of comic books from America? I learnt to draw Mickey when I was very young (and when he had very thin legs and two buttons on his shorts.) My mother, father, sister and live-in grandmother gave me praise and encouragement enough and I guess that my future was set. I could never have believed way back then that someday I might be lucky enough to sit at home all day and draw pictures and write stories. So that is how it started and has more or less continued ever since. Between then and now I have managed to go to art school and learn painting and drawing, marry Carolyn, (whom I met at art school), have two children, Naomi and Pete, and numerous dogs of all shapes and sizes over the years. I never planned to be an author and illustrator of children’s books. I never plan very much at all; it just happened. A small blue budgie flew into our back garden one morning, stayed with us for a while, and one day flew out again. It was a simple story, but nevertheless worth telling, so one day I stayed home from work and started to make small drawings…and to write a few words… and it became my first book, “Pete and Roland.” And I have continued to make books ever since, a profusion of dogs we have lived with, people we have known (or heard about) and also my imagination let off the leash. I would like my books to be a little like opening someone’s family photo album and looking inside; then recognising that the people inside might be someone you know, or you, even. I have also managed to read heaps of books over the years since those first Walt Disney comics. I have read them to myself, and I have read them to my children. Now I read them to my grandaughter Rosie, and grandson Oliver Life flies along. And about his books… I would like to think that if my books had any sort of message threading through them, then it would be one of Tolerance. All the characters are different and have sometimes quite marked idiosyncrasies, (especially the dogs,) but in the end they all tolerate these differences, and are kind to their animals and themselves. Bob has won numerous awards, far too many to list here so here are a few highlights… AUSTRALIA CBCA Picture Book of the Year Award • 1986 First There was Frances. Commended. • 1988 Crusher is Coming. Winner. • 1990 Grandad’s Magic. Honour Book. • 1991 Greetings from Sandy Beach. Winner. • 1993 Rose meets Mister Wintergarten. Winner. • 2001 Max. Honour Book. • 2002 Let’s Get a Pup! Winner. Early Childhood UNITED KINGDOM Kate Greenaway Medal • 1998 Queenie the Bantam. Highly Commended. • 2001 Let’s Get a Pup! Shortlisted • 2002 Jethro Byrde. Winner Smarties Book Prize • 2000 Buffy. Silver medal. • 2001 Max. Winner INTERNATIONAL • 1994 UNICEF Bologna Illustrator of the year award. • 1998 IBBY, First there was Frances. Certificate of Honour for Illustration UNITED STATES Max • Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year. • A School Library journal Best Book of the Year. • A Smithsonian notable Book for children. • An Oppenheim toy portfolio Platinum Award Winner. • An American Library Association Notable Children’s Book. Benny • A Parenting Magazine Reading Magic Award Winner. • A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year. • A Smithsonian Notable book for Children. Let’s Get a Pup, said Kate. • ABC Children’s choices award. • 2002 Boston Globe Horn Picture Book award. Winner • Smithsonian Notable book for children Jethro Byrde Fairy Child • School Library journal Best Book of the Year. • Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Award. • Parenting Book of the Year. • Smithsonian Notable book for Children. How to Heal a Broken Wing • Charlotte Zolotow Award. Winner Back to Top Next Illustrator ILLUSTRATIONS Please click on image to enlarge and view details of size, price etc. |
| Spirit of Hope, written and illustrated by Bob Graham and first published in 1993. This edition published 2008 by Hachette Livre Australia Pty Ltd. Winner of the UNICEF Bologna Illustrator’s Award in 1994. The Fairweathers know everyone and everyone knows the Fairweathers. Their little house is close to a four lane highway and factories tower overhead. Every morning they wave to the passing trucks and the drivers wave back. They are truly happy … until one gloomy day they learn that their house must be demolished. In this tie of trouble, who can the Fairweathers turn to but their friends and a spirit of hope? Spirit of Hope, written and illustrated by Bob Graham, this cover artwork edition published 2008 by Hatchette Children\’s Books. 35mm x 65mm actual image inside 250mm x 230mm mounted area. Watercolour and ink, signed and mounted, %C2%A3195′)”> Bob GrahamZoltan the Magnificent, written and illustrated by Bob Graham and first published in 1994. This edition published 2008 by Hachette Livre Australia Pty Ltd. Zoltan the Magnificent has the inimitable Bog Graham touch: family life minutely observed with gentle humour, warmth and great affection. Most of the time, the only sign Jack sees of his dad is a cold teabag left on the kitchen sink in the morning. But when they go on holidays, Jack sees an unexpected side of his dad – maybe Dad can be as much fun as Mum after all! Zoltan the Magnificent, written and illustrated by Bob Graham. This cover artwork edition published 2008 by Hatchette Children\’s Books. 250mm x 225mm. Watercolour and ink, signed and mounted, %C2%A3395′)”> Bob GrahamCrusher is Coming, written and illustrated by Bob Graham and first published in 1987. This edition published 2008 by Hachette Livre Australia Pty Ltd. Winner of the 1988 Children’s Book Council of Australia Book of the Year. Crusher, the school football hero, is coming to tea. In anticipation, Peter clears his room of childish things and he prepares all sorts of exciting games to play. But will Crusher really live up to his tough nickname? Crusher is Coming, written and illustrated by Bob Graham. This cover artwork edition published 2008 by Hatchette Children\’s Books. 250mm x 200mm. Watercolour and ink, signed and mounted, %C2%A3395′)”> Bob GrahamHas anyone here seen William?, written and illustrated by Bob Graham and first published 1988 by Walker Books Ltd. “Another winner from Bob Graham…With his unerring eye and gentle humour he seems able to capture the essence of toddlerhood.” Books for Keeps Bob Graham (detail)The Red Woollen Blanket, written and illustrated by Bob Graham and first published 1987 by Walker Books Ltd. The Red Woollen Blanket, first published 1987 by Walker Books Ltd. 230mm x 180mm. Watercolour and ink, signed and unmounted, %C2%A3275′)”> Bob GrahamA magazine about books for children and young adults, published bi-monthly in the US. Back to Top Next Illustrator |
| BIBLIOGRAPHYThe following is just a small selection from the 60 or so books that Bob has had published.PICTURE BOOKS (written and illustrated)• 1981 Pete and Roland. Australia and UK, Collins; USA, Viking, 1984 • 1983 Pearl’s Place. Australia, Lothian; UK, Blackie; USA, Bedrick,1985 • 1983 Here Comes Theo. Here Comes John. Australia, Omnibus; UK, Hamish Hamilton, 1985; USA, Little Brown 1988. • 1984 Libby, Oscar and Me. Australia, Lothian; UK, Blackie; USA, Bedrick,1985. • 1985 Bath Time for John. Where Is Sarah. Australia, Omnibus; UK, Hamish Hamilton; USA, Little Brown, 1988 • 1984 First there was Frances. Australia, Lothian; UK, Blackie, 1985; USA, Bradbury Press, 1986. • 1986 The Wild. Australia, Lothian; UK, Blackie; USA, Bendrick • 1987 The Adventures of Charlotte and Henry. France, Centurion; UK and USA, Viking Kestrel • 1987 Crusher is Coming! Australia, Lothian; UK, Collins 1987; USA, Viking Kestrel • 1987 The Red Woollen Blanket. UK, Walker Books; USA, Little Brown • 1988 Has Anyone here seen William? UK, Walker Books; USA, Little Brown • 1988 Sitting Ducks and the Ducks Revenge. Australia, The Five Mile Press • 1989 Bringing Home the New Baby (Getting to Know the New Baby, Visiting the New Baby, Waiting for the New Baby). UK, Walker Books • 1989 Grandad’s Magic. UK, Walker Books; USA, Little Brown • 1990 Greetings from Sandy Beach. Australia, Lothian; UK, Blackie; USA, Kane/ Miller, 1992. • 1992 Rose Meets Mr. Wintergarten. UK, Walker Books; USA, Candlewick Press • 1992 Brand New Baby UK, Walker Books • 1993 Spirit of Hope. Australia, Lothian; USA, Mondo, 1996 • 1994 Zoltan the Magnificant. Australia, Lothian. • 1997 Queenie the Bantam. UK, Walker Books; as Queenie one of the Family, USA, Candlewick Press • 1997 Les Mercredis de Charlotte et Henri. France, Bayard Editions; as The Adventures of Charlotte and Henry, Australia, ABC Books, 2001 • 1999 Buffy, an adventure story. UK, Walker Books; as Benny an adventure story. USA, Candlewick Press • 2000 Max, UK, Walker Books; USA, Candlewick Press • 2001 “Let’s Get a Pup!” UK, Walker Books; as “Let’s Get a Pup,” said Kate, USA, Candlewick Press • 2002 Jethro Byrde UK, Walker Books; as Jethro Byrd, USA, Candlewick Press • 2004 Tales from the Waterhole UK, Walker Books; USA, Candlewick Press • 2005 Oscar’s Half Birthday UK, Walker Books; USA, Candlewick Press • 2006 Dimity Dumpty UK, Walker Books; USA, Candlewick Press • 2007 The Trouble with Dogs UK, Walker Books; USA, Candlewick Press • 2008 How to Heal a Broken Wing UK, Walker Books; USA, Candlewick PressILLUSTRATED ONLY• 1979 The Useful Book, (and other editions); Round and Round and Special Times by Diane Snowball and Faye Bolton, 1980; ABC Books • 1981 A Boggle of Bunyips edited by Edel Wignall, Hodder and Stoughton • 1982 A First Australian Poetry Book compiled by June Factor. • 1985 How does your Garden Grow? By Kevin Heinze. Five Mile Press. • 1986 Camping: Let’s do it together, and Making a Picture Book. Both by Anne Bower Ingram and Peggy O’Donnell. Ellsyd Press. • 1987 Songs from There’s a Bear in There, ABC • 1987 Sounds and Music by Stella Turner. Ellsyd Press. • 1990 Babies: Unsentimental Anthology by Iona Opie. John Murray. • 1990 Poems for the Very Young edited by Michael Rosen. UK, Kingfisher. • 1996 This is Our House by Michael Rosen. UK, Walker Books. • 1998 Full House by Nigel Gray. Australia, Lothian Books. • 2000 In Every Tiny Grain of Sand collected by Reeve Lindbergh. USA, Candlewick Press. • 2003 Aristotle by Dick-King Smith. UK, Walker Books. • 2009 I’m Number One by Michael Rosen. UK, Walker Books |
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