Bob Graham (author/illustrator)


Robert Donald Graham, better known as Bob Graham, is an Australian author and illustrator of picture books, primarily for very young children.
Graham won the 2002 Kate Greenaway Medal from the British librarians, recognising the year's best-illustrated children's book published in the UK, for the picture book Jethro Byrd, Fairy Child, which he both wrote and illustrated. The story features a young girl who finds a tiny fairy family "in cement and weeds", contrary to her father's teaching. He also won a 2000 Smarties Prize, ages category 0–5 years, for Max and the 2002 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award, Picture Book, for "Let's Get A Pup!" Said Kate.
For his contribution as a children's illustrator, Graham was Australia nominee for the biennial, international Hans Christian Andersen Medal in 2012.

Biography

Graham was born in Sydney, Australia. He loved drawing and was greatly influenced by comics such as The Phantom and Mandrake.
He studied drawing and painting, went to the UK after graduation, returned to Sydney, and there began his career as an illustrator and designer. Between 1983 and 1995 he lived in Melbourne working as an illustrator for a publishing house, The Five Mile Press. He now lives in the UK and works on a monthly comic-strip for a French magazine, Les Belles Histoires as well as continuing to produce picture books.
In 1982 he illustrated the music and lyrics booklet for Australian Broadcasting Commission's Sing primary school music radio broadcast. A scene from Greetings from Sandy Beach was used as one in a series of Australia Post stamps celebrating the 50th anniversary of the annual Children's Book Council of Australia awards.
WorldCat reports from participating libraries that his most widely held work is How to Heal a Broken Wing, a 36-page picture book about a city boy who rescues an injured bird; published in 2008 by both Walker and its US division Candlewick Press. WorldCat libraries hold editions in Scottish Gaelic, French, Spanish, Catalan, and Chinese.

Awards and honours

Graham's books have received numerous honors and have been listed on several "best of" lists.
Eleven of Graham's books are Junior Library Guild selections: Max, Tales from the Waterhole, How to Heal a Broken Wing, April and Esme, Tooth Fairies, The Silver Button, Vanilla Ice Cream, How the Sun Got to Coco's House, Home in the Rain, The Underhills, Ellie's Dragon, and Maxine.
The Cooperative Children's Book Center at the University of Wisconsin–Madison included nine of Graham's books in their year-end lists of the best books: "Let's Get a Pup" Said Kate, Oscar’s Half Birthday, "The Trouble with Dogs..." Said Dad, How to Heal a Broken Wing, April and Esme: Tooth Fairies, A Bus Called Heaven, The Silver Button,''How the Sun Got to Coco's House, and Maxine.
The Association for Library Service to Children has named the following as Notable Children's Books: "Let's Get A Pup,' Said Kate, Oscar's Half Birthday, Dimity Dumpty, April and Esme, Tooth Fairies, Home in the Rain. ALSC also included Max , an adaptation of Graham's Max, a Notable Children's Video in 2003.
School Library Journal named How to Heal a Broken Wing one of the best picture books of 2008.
Two of Graham's books received fanfare from The Horn Book Magazine, meaning they were listed as the magazine's best books of the year. Fanfare books include April and Esme, Tooth Fairies and Home in the Rain.
Kirkus Reviews named Vanilla Ice Cream one of the best picture books of 2014.
Vanilla Ice Cream was selected by Bank Street College of Education as one of the best books of 2015.
In 2017, Home in the Rain received a blue ribbon from The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books.
YearTitleAwardResultRef.
1986First there was FrancesCBCA's Children's Book of the Year Award: Picture BookCommended
1987The WildCBCA's Children's Book of the Year Award: Picture BookShortlist
1988Crusher is ComingCBCA's Children's Book of the Year Award: Picture BookWinner
1990Grandad's MagicCBCA's Children's Book of the Year Award: Picture BookHonour
1991Greetings from Sandy BeachCBCA's Children's Book of the Year Award: Picture BookWinner
1992Rose Meets Mr WintergartenHuman Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission's Human Rights Awards, Children's Literature categoryCommended
1993Rose Meets Mr WintergartenCBCA's Children's Book of the Year Award: Picture BookWinner
1993Rose Meets Mr WintergartenChildren's Peace Literature AwardWinner
1997Queenie the BantamKate Greenaway MedalHighly commended
1998Queenie the BantamCBCA's Children's Book of the Year Award: Picture BookShortlist
1999Buffy: An Adventure StoryNestlé Smarties Book Prize, ages 0–5 yearsSilver
2000Buffy: An Adventure StoryCBCA's Children's Book of the Year Award: Picture BookShortlist
2000Buffy: An Adventure StoryChildren's Yearly Best Ever Reads Award, Picture BooksWinner
2000MaxNestlé Smarties Book Prize, ages 0–5 yearsWinner
2001MaxCBCA's Children's Book of the Year Award: Early ChildhoodHonour
2002Jethro Byrd, Fairy ChildKate Greenaway MedalWinner
2002"Let's Get A Pup!" Said KateBoston Globe-Horn Book Award, Picture BookWinner
2002"Let's Get A Pup!" Said KateCBCA's Children's Book of the Year Award: Early ChildhoodWinner
2003Jethro Byrde, Fairy ChildCBCA's Children's Book of the Year Award: Picture BookShortlist
2005Aristotle Blue Peter Book Award, Best Illustrated Book to Read AloudShortlist
2005Tales from the WaterholeCBCA's Children's Book of the Year Award: Early ChildhoodShortlist
2006Oscar’s Half BirthdayCharlotte Zolotow AwardCommend
2008"The Trouble with Dogs..." Said Dad.CBCA's Children's Book of the Year Award: Early ChildhoodShortlist
2008"The Trouble with Dogs..." Said Dad.Charlotte Zolotow AwardCommended
2009How to Heal a Broken WingCBCA's Children's Book of the Year Award: Early ChildhoodWinner
2009How to Heal a Broken WingCharlotte Zolotow AwardWinner
2011April and Esme: Tooth FairiesCharlotte Zolotow AwardHonor
2011April Underhill, Tooth FairyPrime Minister's Literary Award, West AustraliaShortlist
2012A Bus Called HeavenCBCA's Children's Book of the Year Award: Picture BookWinner
2014The Silver ButtonCBCA's Children's Book of the Year Award: Picture BookHonour
2014The Silver ButtonCharlotte Zolotow AwardCommended
2014The Silver ButtonIrma Black AwardFinalist
2014The Silver ButtonPrime Minister's Literary Award, Children's FictionWinner
2016How the Sun Got to Coco's HouseCharlotte Zolotow AwardCommended
2017Home in the RainCBCA's Children's Book of the Year Award: Picture BookWinner
2017Home in the RainPrime Minister's Literary Award, Children's FictionWinner
2021Ellie’s DragonCBCA's Children's Book of the Year Award: Picture BookShortlist
2023Jigsaw: A Puzzle in the PostCBCA's Children's Book of the Year Award: Early ChildhoodShortlist
2023Jigsaw: A Puzzle in the Post''Children's Book Award, Queensland Literary AwardsShortlist