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Lynley Dodd
Photo Credit: © Bob Tulloch


Lynley Dodd graduated from the Elam School of Art in Auckland with a diploma in Fine Arts, majoring in sculpture. She went on to teach art before taking a break to start a family. She began to work as a freelance illustrator and collaborated with author Eve Sutton on My Cat Likes To Hide in Boxes. There was no looking back as Lynley went on to write and illustrate her own books for children. Exuberant artwork and bouncy rhymes come together perfectly in books like Slinky Malinki and Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy. As well as being a visual delight, these are some of the most rewarding books for children and adults to read out loud. It comes as no surprise that, as a child, she adored Dr Seuss because of his 'crazy sounds and the fact that he took such liberties with the English language.' Other favourite authors included A A Milne and the fairy tales of The Grimm Brothers and Hans Christian Andersen. Today, Lynley is a big fan of Quentin Blake 'because of his humour and very clever art work.'

Awards & recognition

LIANZA Children's Book Awards

Awarded  •  1975  •  Esther Glen Medal for My Cat Likes to Hide in Boxes with Eve Sutton

New Zealand Book Awards

Winner  •  1981  •  Prize for Illustrations for Druscilla

New Zealand Book Awards

Winner  •  1983  •  New Zealand Children's Picture Book of the Year for Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy

New Zealand Book Awards

Shortlisted  •  1985  •  New Zealand Children's Picture Book of the Year for Hairy Maclary's Bone

New Zealand Book Awards

Winner  •  1986  •  New Zealand Children's Picture Book of the Year for Hairy Maclary Scattercat

New Zealand Book Awards

Shortlisted  •  1987  •  New Zealand Children's Picture Book of the Year for Wake Up, Bear

New Zealand Book Awards

Winner  •  1988  •  New Zealand Children's Picture Book of the Year for Hairy Maclary's Caterwaul Caper

LIANZA Children's Book Awards

Shortlisted  •  1988  •  Russell Clark Award for Illustration for Hairy Maclary's Caterwaul Caper

LIANZA Children's Book Awards

Shortlisted  •  1990  •  Esther Glen Medal for Hairy Maclary's Rumpus at the Vet

AIM Children's Book Awards

Third place  •  1991  •  Picture Book of the Year for Slinky Malinki

AIM Children's Book Awards

Winner  •  1992  •  Picture Book of the Year for Hairy Maclary's Showbusiness

AIM Children's Book Awards

Shortlisted  •  1993  •  Picture Book of the Year for The Minister's Cat ABC

LIANZA Children's Book Awards

Shortlisted  •  1994  •  Russell Clark Award for Illustration for Slinky Malinki, Open the Door

AIM Children's Book Awards

Shortlisted  •  1995  •  Picture Book of the Year Description5 for Schnitzel von Krumm's Basketwork

AIM Children's Book Awards

Shortlisted  •  1996  •  Picture Book of the Year for Sniff-Snuff-Snap!

New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children and Young Adults

Shortlisted  •  1997  •  Picture Book of the Year for Schnitzel von Krumm, Forget-Me-Not

New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children and Young Adults

Shortlisted  •  1998  •  Picture Book of the Year for Hairy Maclary, Sit

Storylines Margaret Mahy Medal

Awarded  •  1999  •  for lifetime achievement and distinguished contribution to New Zealand’s children’s literature

New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children and Young Adults

Shortlisted  •  1999  •  Picture Book of the Year for Slinky Malinki Catflaps

New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children and Young Adults

Winner  •  2000  •  Children's Choice Award for Hairy Maclary and Zachary Quack

Nielsen BookData Booksellers' Choice Award

Shortlisted  •  2000  •  Bookseller's Choice Award Description6 for Hairy Maclary and Zachary Quack

New Zealand Order of Merit

Awarded  •  2002  •  Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to children's literature and book illustration

New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children and Young Adults

Shortlisted  •  2002  •  Picture Book of the Year for Scarface Claw

New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children and Young Adults

Winner  •  2005  •  Children's Choice Award for The Other Ark

Storylines Gaelyn Gordon Award for a much-loved book

Awarded  •  2006  •  for The Nickle Nackle Tree

Honorary Doctorate from the University of Waikato

Awarded  •  2009  •  Honorary Doctor of the University of Waikato

University of Auckland Distinguished Alumni Award

Awarded  •  2009  •  University of Auckland Distinguished Alumni Award

Storylines Notable Picture Book Award

Awarded  •  2013  •  for Slinky Malinki, Early Bird

Storylines Notable Picture Book Award

Awarded  •  2018  •  for Scarface Claw, Hold Tight!

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