Pamela Allen (Author)

Pamela Allen is a phenomenon in the world of children's literature. For almost thirty years her picture books have enchanted generations of children, both in Australia and overseas and many of her titles have won prestigious awards and commendations both in Australia and overseas.

 

Pamela's books are full of the music of language; they are 'fragments of theatre', designed to be read aloud and shared between an adult and a child. Eight of Pamela's titles were adapted for the stage by Patch Theatre Company, and performed in the Sydney Opera House. In 2004, Grandpa and Thomas won the Children's Book Council Book of the Year Award: Early Childhood and The Potato People was named an Honour Book in the same category in 2003, and Grandpa and Thomas and the Green Umbrella was shortlisted for the same award in 2007, as was Shhh! Little Mouse in 2008. Is Your Grandmother a Goanna? won a 2008 Speech Pathology of Australia Book of the Year Award.

 

Pamela's picture books have earned classic status through their enduring popularity with the very young.

 

'From Pamela Allen's first publication in 1980 it was clear that here was a creator of picture books with all the glow, gesture, din and dance to capture the attention, engage the imagination, teach, show, tickle and excite small children.' Meg Sorensen, Australian Book Review

 

Pamela Allen lives in New Zealand with her husband.

Awards:

Kidspot Best of Awards  - Best Book Learn to Read
Winner - 2008 for Alexander's Outing

CBC Book of the Year  - Early Childhood
Short-listed - 2008 for Shhh! Little Mouse

Early Childhood of Australia  - Best Picture Book
Short-listed - 2007 for Shhh! Little Mouse

Speech Pathology Australia  - Young Children
Short-listed - 2007 for Grandpa and Thomas and the Green Umbrella

CBC Book of the Year  - Early Childhood
Short-listed - 2007 for Grandpa and Thomas and the Green Umbrella

Speech Pathology Australia  - Young Children
Short-listed - 2007 for Share Said the Rooster

CBC Book of the Year  - Early Childhood
Honour - 2007 for Doodledum Dancing

New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards  - Picture Book
Short-listed - 2006 for Where's the Gold?

Young Aust Best Book Award (YABBA)  - Picture Book
Short-listed - 2004 for The Potato People

Kids Own Aust Literature Award (KOALA)  - Picture Book
Short-listed - 2004 for The Potato People

COOL Award  - Picture Book
Short-listed - 2004 for The Potato People

COOL Award  - Picture Book
Winner - 2004 for Mr McGee & the Biting Flea

Young Aust Best Book Award (YABBA)  - Picture Book
Short-listed - 2004 for Mr McGee & the Biting Flea

Kids Own Aust Literature Award (KOALA)  - Picture Book
Short-listed - 2004 for Mr McGee & the Biting Flea

KROC Award
Long-listed - 2004 for Mr McGee

New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards
Winner - 2004 for Cuthbert's Babies

Speech Pathology Australia
Short-listed - 2004 for Cuthbert's Babies

Family Award for Children's Books  - Picture Book
Long-listed - 2004 for Cuthbert's Babies

CBC Book of the Year  - Early Childhood
Honour - 2003 for The Potato People

Kids Own Aust Literature Award (KOALA)  - Young Reader
Short-listed - 2003 for Who Sank the Boat?

Reading,Enjoying Australian Literature  - Picture Book
Short-listed - 2003 for Mr McGee & the Biting Flea

Kids Own Aust Literature Award (KOALA)  - Young Reader
Short-listed - 2003 for Mr McGee & the Biting Flea

Young Aust Best Book Award (YABBA)  - Picture Book
Short-listed - 2002 for Mr McGee & the Biting Flea

Kids Own Aust Literature Award (KOALA)
Long-listed - 2002 for Mr McGee & the Biting Flea

Kids Own Aust Literature Award (KOALA)  - Picture Book
Short-listed - 2001 for Mr McGee & the Biting Flea

Gaylene Gordon Memorial Prize  - Children's Book
Winner - 2001 for Who Sank the Boat?

Young Aust Best Book Award (YABBA)  - Picture Book
Long-listed - 2000 for Mr McGee & the Biting Flea

CBC Book of the Year  - Picture Book
Short-listed - 1999 for Mr McGee & the Biting Flea

Children's Yearly Best Ever Reads (Tas)  - Picture Book
Winner - 1999 for Mr McGee & the Biting Flea

KROC Award
Long-listed - 1999 for Mr McGee & the Biting Flea

Kids Own Aust Literature Award (KOALA)  - Picture Book
Short-listed - 1999 for Belinda

Kids Own Aust Literature Award (KOALA)  - Picture Book
Short-listed - 1998 for Belinda

Kids Own Aust Literature Award (KOALA)  - Primary readers section
Short-listed - 1996 for Belinda

Kids Own Aust Literature Award (KOALA)  - Primary readers section
Short-listed - 1995 for Belinda

Young Aust Best Book Award (YABBA)  - Picture Book
Short-listed - 1994 for Belinda

CBC Book of the Year  - Picture Book
Honour Book - 1993 for Belinda

Young Aust Best Book Award (YABBA)  - Picture Book
Short-listed - 1993 for My Cat Maisie

CBC Book of the Year  - Picture Book
Winner - 1991 for My Cat Maisie

NSW Family Therapy Association Award
Special Mention - 1991 for Black Dog

CBC Book of the Year  - Picture Book
Short-listed - 1990 for I Wish I Had a Pirate Suit

Miscelleneous Award  - Children's Book
Winner - 1989 for Fancy That!

W.Russell Clark Award (NZ)  - Children's Book
Winner - 1986 for A Lion in the Night

CBC Book of the Year  - Picture Book
Winner - 1984 for Bertie & the Bear

Internat'l Board on bks for young people  - for Illustration
Honour - 1984 for Who Sank the Boat?

 - Children's Book
Joint winner - 1983 for Who Sank the Boat?

CBC Book of the Year  - Picture Book
Winner - 1983 for Who Sank the Boat?

Profile was last updated on 3 July 2009.