> Skip to content

Article  •  12 May 2016

 

Graeme Base fun facts

Things you may not have known about Animalia creator Graeme Base.

  1. He has two Bengal Cats called Stella and Atticus. Stella is spotty like a leopard; Atticus is marbled like an ocelot.
  2. He has a secret way of crushing plastic milk cartons so they take up the least room possible in the recycling bin.
  3. He has a strange fascination with quantum physics and astronomy and puts himself to sleep at night by reading New Scientist magazine.
  4. He is a keen but so far unknown inventor of games, musical instruments and household appliances including a new kind of vacuum cleaner and a baby-stroller.
  5. He learnt clarinet in school and later played alto sax and keyboards in a band called Rikitikitavi. His now-wife Robyn was the lead singer.
  6. He has written several musicals based on his books including The Sign of the Seahorse, Gooligulch, The Worst Band in the Universe and Jungle Drums. They have all been performed but not nearly enough!
  7. He has a nifty way of winding guitar leads and garden hoses so they don't get tangled and curly when they are unwound.
  8. He has visited 40 of the 50 United States of America and all seven continents, and dislikes airport terminals more than he can adequately express.
  9. He has recently rediscovered several big boxes full of old sketches and drawings that have never been published and has decided to start an Instagram post with a new drawing every day – or maybe every second day... we shall see!
  10. He has sold over 4 million books in Australia.

More features

See all
Article
5 of the hottest YA books right now (2025)

Check out some of the hottest YA books in stores now, from epic romantasy to sweet, unexpected romance.

Article
How to throw the perfect Bluey birthday party

Everything you need to throw the perfect Bluey birthday party!

Article
Your guide to writers’ festivals in May 2025

Check out some of the Penguin Random House authors who will be at upcoming writers’ festivals.

Article
How to save money on groceries: 6 innovative budget tips

Food shopping on a budget? These tips from Money-Saving Meal Plans With Chelsea will help you spend less on food.

Article
Penguin Picks: 4 books to escape with this long weekend – no travel required

Check out the long weekend reads Penguin employees are loving.

Article
Penguin Noir 2025 was a criminally good showcase

Our 2025 Penguin Noir events have wrapped up for another year – featuring four cities, four days, seven authors and a whole lot of crime!

Article
Two Penguin authors make the shortlist for the 2025 Stella Prize

Congrats to Samah Sabawi, author of Cactus Pear For My Beloved and Jumaana Abdu, author of Translations!

Article
Lynette Noni is touring Australia in 2025!

Find out where you can hear Lynette Noni speak about her upcoming book, Wandering Wild.

Article
Two thrilling adaptations of Candice Fox’s bestsellers are coming to screens near you

High Wire and Fire With Fire are both in development for series adaptations.

Article
Maurice and Maralyn wins Nero Gold Prize, Book of the Year 2024

We’re thrilled to share that Maruice and Maralyn by Sophie Elmhirst has won the Nero Book Awards Gold Prize, Book of the Year.

Article
Award-winning and shortlisted books of 2025

Discover some of the best Penguin Random House books of 2025 with this list of award-winning and shortlisted titles this year.

Looking for more articles?

See all articles
penguin pop image
penguin pop image