Yossi Abolafia


Yossi Abolafia is an Israeli writer and illustrator of children's books, as well as a graphic artist, cartoonist, director and screenwriter of animation films.

Biography

Abolafia was born in Tiberias in 1944 in what was then the British Mandate of Palestine. At age 17, he was accepted to Israel's national school of art "Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design". He graduated from the school after majoring graphic design for 4 years. After his military service Abolafia began to work in the Israeli Channel 1 as graphic artist and cartoonist.

Work

In 1975 Abolafia illustrated the back cover for Kaveret's third album Crowded in the Ear which was a collage of images illustrating the various songs on the album in the style of the famous Monty Python illustrations done by Terry Gilliam.
Towards the mid-1980s Abolafia moved to North America, where he worked for six years as an animation producer and as a director in both Canada and the United States. During these years Abolafia began to illustrate and write children's books, both for Israelis and for Americans.
In 1990 Abolafia published the children's book HaKina Nechama which was written by Meir Shalev and illustrated by Abolafia. The book, which humorously describes the adventures of a head louse, became very popular and influential in Israel and was adapted to other media numerous times.
In 1999 Abolafia created all the transition animated clips of the 1999 Eurovision song contest held in Israel, which were based on the stories of the Bible.
To date, Abolafia has illustrated more than 140 books, and is widely known for illustrating the children's books written by Ephraim Sidon and Meir Shalev.
Abolafia used to illustrate for the Israeli newspapers Hadashot and Ma'ariv, and served as the head of the animation department at the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design, which he established together with Hanan Kaminski.

Personal life

Abolafia currently resides in the Israeli settlement of Har Adar, and serves as a senior lecturer in the animation department of the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design.

Awards

  • 1978, Hounor list of Israel Museum Ben-Yitzhak award for the illustration of a children's book for his illustrations in "Alilot Ferdinand Pedatzur BeKitzur"
  • 1990, Hounor list of Israel Museum Ben-Yitzhak award for the illustration of a children's book for his illustrations in "Adi Aba VeArbaim HaMotzetzim"
  • 1992, Hounor list of Hans Christian Andersen Award for illustration by IBBY for his illustrations in "HaKina Nechama"
  • 1993, Nahum Gutman Prize for Illustration
  • 1998, Hounor list of Hans Christian Andersen Award for illustration by IBBY for his illustrations in ''"Et Ze!"''

Films

Canada Vignettes: News CanadaFriends of the Family
  • ''Ottawa 82 Logo''

Published Works

English Books illustrated

Buffy and Albert, by Charlotte Pomerantz Harry's Dog, by Barbara Ann Porte What I Did Last Summer, by Jack Prelutsky Harry's Mom, by Barbara Ann Porte Aviva's Piano, by Miriam Chaikin Donovan Scares the Monsters, by Susan Love Whitlock Leo and Emily's Zoo, by Franz Brandenberg The Birthday Thing, by Suann Kiser and Kevin Kiser Harry in Trouble, by Barbara Ann Porte My father always embarrasses me, by Meir Shalev Harry Gets an Uncle, by Barbara Ann Porte Am I Beautiful?, by Else Holmelund Minarik Taxicab Tales, by Barbara Ann Porte Stop, Thief!, by Robert Kalan A Turkey Drive and Other Tales, by Barbara Ann Porte Busybody Brandy, by Jessie Haas
  • Harry's Birthday, by Barbara Ann Porte Clean House, by Jessie Haas Harry's Pony, by Barbara Ann Porte The Key to My Heart, by Nira Harel The Mystery of the Dead Sea Scrolls, by Hagit Allon and Lena Zehavi It's Snowing! It's Snowing!, by Jack Prelutsky My Parents Think I'm Sleeping, by Jack Prelutsky It's Valentine's Day, by Jack Prelutsky One Hundred New Apples, by Ora Morag The Golden Bell, by Tamar Sachs Moving Day, by Robert Kalan Ten Old Pails, by Nicholas Heller

Hebrew Books illustrated

Tales of Ferdinand Pedatsort, For Short, by Ephraim Sidon It's Hard to Be a Lion, by Uri Orlev No Laughing Matter, by Steven Lukes and Itzhak Galnoor Uzu and Muzu from Kakamaruzu, by Ephraim Sidon Zohar's Dimples, by Meir Shalev Songs in a Juice, by Ephraim Sidon My Father Always Embarrasses Me, by Meir Shalev
  • Adi, Dad, and the Forty Pacifiers, by Amalia Argaman-Barnea Nehama the Head Louse, by Meir Shalev The Animals as a Fable, edited by Shelly Elkayam Between Reality and Imagination, by Dr. Dafna Lemish A kiss for Schpunza, by Lia Nirgad Who Kidnapped Boaz?, by Yemima Avidar Tchernovitz and Dana Avidar e Isle of Nonsense, by Ephraim Sidon How the Neanderthal Inadvertently Invented Kebab, by Meir Shalev The Tractor in the Sandbox, by Meir Shalev A Hippo in the Soup, by Yehuda Atlas Glizo the Wanderer, By Ephraim Sidon This!, by Nira Harel A Monkey with Glasses, by Hana Goldberg Aunt Michal, by Meir Shalev The Key to My Heart, by Nira Harel For Ever Under a Shadow, by Jacob Buchan
  • Double Parking, by Gil-Ad Harish Doctor Marshmello Mello, by Shlomit Cohen Asif A Story that Starts with a Kiss, by Shlomit Cohen Asif Roni and Nomi and Jacob the Bear, by Meir Shalev A Lion in the Nights, by Meir Shalev The Chickens and the Fox, by Haim Nahman Bialik
  • That American Girl, by Susie Morgenstern Grendpa Aaron and his Rain, by Meir Shalev The Underplate, by Meir Shalev The Teddy Bear Ate a Soap, by Anda Pinkerfeld Amir Kremer the Cat Sleeps All the Time, by Meir Shalev Good People, by Naomi Shemer Kremer the Cat Go to the Forest, by Meir Shalev It Starts with a Boom and Ends with a Bang, by Shlomit Cohen Asif Kremer the Cat Is a Swimmer, by Meir Shalev

Hebrew Books illustrated and written

Baldy Hights Zahava and the Three Uncles Fox Tale Numbers Tells a Story A Fishy Tale The Book of Fables Snakes Yashka's Island Grandpa Yashka Saves the Bay Dog, Cat & Man You're Never Going to Believe This, But It's True Yashka's Mountain
  • ''Machberet Hibur''

English book translations - illustrated and written

My Three Uncles A Fish for Mrs. Gardenia Yanosh's Island Fox Tale
  • ''Dog, cat & man''