Allan Stomann


Allan Stomann is an Australian cartoonist and illustrator. He is best known for illustrating children's books, notably the long-running and award-winning Selby the Talking Dog series by author Duncan Ball. His work reached a wide audience through the popular children's school songbooks published by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in the 1970s and 1980s, and cartoons in the Australian Women's Weekly in the early 1980s.

Career

Born in Melbourne, Stomann entered the Art School at Swinburne Technical College in 1959, where fellow students in his year included Keith McMenomy. In July 1965, he was one of a number of artists to exhibit at the Stagecoach Gallery in Queens Road, Melbourne. Stomann later spent some time working in Great Britain, where he had a stint as an illustrator on thirty episodes of the children's TV series Jackanory, broadcast between May 1969 and November 1970. During this time, he also illustrated a book of children's poetry, Nothing at All Rhymes, published by Paul Hamlyn in London and later in Sydney.
In the mid-1970s, Stomann took over from Tony Oliver as illustrator of the children's songbooks published annually by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation to accompany a radio series used as a teaching aid in primary schools. Stomann illustrated all of the editions of this songbook between 1976 and 1986 in the distinctive and colourful style that became his trademark. Around 1980, he began to regularly contribute cartoons and illustrations to the Australian Women's Weekly. Although best known for his children's book illustrations, Stomann has also, since the early 1980s, contributed artwork to humorous or instructional books for adults. He has also designed sleeves for LP records by popular children's entertainer Peter Combe, including Toffee Apple and Spaghetti Bolognaise.
In November 1983, Stomann registered his business as Allan Stoman & Associates Pty Ltd. It continues to operate under that name, based in McMahons Point, Sydney.

Works

Early works

Nothing at All Rhymes
  • Clancy Carruthers with Ted Ashby, My Learn-to-take-photos Book
  • Marcia Hatfield, Eddie's Numbers
  • Coralie Rees, What Happened After? Nursery Rhyme Sequels
  • Lydia Pender, Sharpur the Carpet Snake
  • Bill Wannan, Crooked Mick of the Speewah and Other Tall Tales Hundreds and Thousands of Things to Do
  • John Lapsley, ''Ask a Silly Question Answers to Silly Questions''

ABC Sing books

Everybody Sing! Sing Sing Sing Let's Sing! All Together Sing Sing! Let's All Sing! Sing Along Sing On!
  • ''Sing!''

Selby the Talking Dog series

  • Duncan Ball, Selby's Secret
  • Duncan Ball, Selby Speaks
  • Duncan Ball, Selby Screams
  • Duncan Ball, Selby Supersnoop
  • Duncan Ball, Selby Space Dog
  • Duncan Ball, Selby Snowbound
  • Duncan Ball, Selby Surfs
  • Duncan Ball, Selby's Selection
  • Duncan Ball, Selby Stardom
  • Duncan Ball, Selby Sorcerer
  • Duncan Ball, Selby Scrambled
  • Duncan Ball, Selby's Shemozzle
  • Duncan Ball, Selby Shattered
  • Duncan Ball, Selby Santa
  • Duncan Ball, The Joke's on Selby
  • Duncan Ball, Selby Sprung
  • Duncan Ball, ''Selby Celebrates''

Other Books for Children

  • John Dineen, The Make Your Own Creepy Spooky Horrors Book
  • David Harris, Loads and Loads of Limericks
  • Wayne Campbell, What a Catastrophe!
  • Margaret Roc, ''Oodles of Noodles''

Books for Adults

  • Bill Pigeon & Clarrie King, Humour in the Weekly
  • Mike Gibson, The Best of Mike Gibson: A Humorous Look at Everyday Aussie Life
  • John & Judy Kidd, Dr Kidd on Sleep Problems What To Do When Your Child Won't Sleep
  • Eric Smith, An Accidental History of Words: A Lighthearted Look at the Things we Say
  • Kerry Cook, ABC Child Safety: a Handy Guide to Childproofing your Home
  • Allan Stomann, The Best of Stomann
  • Steve Biddulph, The Secret of Happy Children
  • Doug Malouf, ''How to Kiss And Keep Your Customers, and Kick the Competition!''

Album Covers

  • Chris Kirby, Iskybibble: starring Chris Kirby
  • Chris Kirby, Iskybibble: The Three Witches; The Little Star
  • Chris Kirby, Iskybibble, Volume 2: Iskybibble and a Fish Called Fingers
  • Peter Combe, Toffee Apple
  • Peter Combe, Spaghetti Bolognaise
  • Chris Kirby, ''The Adventures of Iskybibble''