Alison Lester facts for kids

Alison Lester is a famous Australian writer and artist. She was born on November 17, 1952. Alison has created more than 25 picture books for kids. She also wrote two novels for young adults. These novels are called The Quickstand Pony and The Snow Pony. In 2005, she won a big award for her book, Are We There Yet?: A Journey Around Australia. This book was named the Children's Book of the Year. Alison Lester's books are loved by children all over the world.

Alison Lester's Early Life and School

Alison Lester was born in Foster, Victoria, Australia. She grew up on a farm with a view of the ocean. She went to St Margaret's School in Berwick, Victoria. She lived there as a boarder while she studied. Later, she earned a teaching diploma from the Melbourne Teachers' College. She trained to be an arts and crafts teacher for high school students.

Alison Lester's Career as a Writer

Alison Lester taught for a short time before starting her family. She then began her career as a writer and illustrator. For five years, she worked as an illustrator. Her very first book was published in 1986.

Alison Lester now lives and works in South Gippsland, Victoria. She has her own art gallery and bookshop. It is located in Fish Creek.

Alison Lester gallery and bookshop, Fish Creek

She often visits primary schools to talk to students. Her picture books combine make-believe worlds with everyday life. They encourage children to believe in themselves. Her stories also celebrate what makes each person special.

Key Moments in Alison Lester's Career

Alison Lester started illustrating children's books in 1979. In 1985, she wrote her first book, called Clive Eats Alligators. From 1985 to 2004, she continued writing and illustrating. She also had art shows at several galleries.

In 1993, she was a guest speaker at a conference in Manila. She received a grant in 1996 to research a famous horse riding school in Vienna. In 1999, she was a writer-in-residence at a school in Singapore. She spoke at a festival in Auckland in 2001.

In 2002, she visited the Bologna Children's Book Fair in Italy. She was a guest author in Boston in 2004. She also visited Seoul, Korea, and Tokyo, Japan, for Children's Book Week in 2004.

In 2005, Alison traveled to Antarctica. She was an Australian Antarctic Arts Fellow. This trip was for her "Kids Antarctic Art" project. She also had workshops and an exhibition in Japan. This was part of a literature program. In 2005, she worked as a photographer on a ship to the Ross Sea in Antarctica.

Her Are We There Yet? illustrations were shown in Taipei in 2006. The first painting from her "Kid's Antarctic Art" project was shown in Tasmania in 2006. In 2007, she went on two more trips to Antarctica as a visual artist. The "Kid's Antarctic Art" exhibition opened in Tasmania in 2007. She also worked as a photographer and writer on a trip around Spitsbergen in the Arctic in 2007. In 2008, the "Kids Antarctic Art" exhibition was shown in Melbourne.

Popular Books by Alison Lester

Alison Lester has written a series of picture books about seven children. Each book focuses on their favorite things. These books are very popular with young children. They have been published in many different languages. Some titles in this series include: When Frank Was Four, Tessa Snaps Snakes, Rosie Sips Spiders, Clive Eats Alligators, Ernie Dances To The Didgeridoo, and Celeste Sails to Spain.

Other well-known books by Alison Lester include Imagine, The Journey Home, Kissed by the Moon, and Noni the Pony. Her novels, The Quicksand Pony and The Snow Pony, both became best-sellers in Australia.

Her best-selling book from 1990, Magic Beach, was made into an animated film in 2024. The film was directed by Robert Connolly.

Awards and Special Recognition

Alison Lester's books have won many awards and honors.

• Her picture book, Clive Eats Alligators, was praised in 1986.
• Ernie Dances to the Didgeridoo was a finalist for an award in 2000.
• The Journey Home was also honored by judges in 1990.
• Her novel, The Quicksand Pony, was named a notable book in 1997.
• In 2005, she won the Children's Book of the Year Award: Picture Book for Are We There Yet? A Journey Around Australia.
• She was chosen as the first Australian Children's Laureate. This role promotes children's literature from 2011 to 2013.
• She received the Dromkeen Medal in 2016.
• In 2018, she won the Melbourne Prize for Literature, which included $60,000.
• Alison Lester became a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2019. This is a special honor for Australians.
• In 2019, she won the Children's Book of the Year Award: Early Childhood for her book Trick's Bad Day.