Ann James facts for kids

Ann James (born October 6, 1952) is a famous Australian artist who draws pictures for over 60 children's books. She has also written some of these books herself! Ann was born in Melbourne, Victoria.

Ann started illustrating books in the 1980s. She has helped a lot to make children's books popular in Australia. In 2000, she won the Pixie O'Harris Award for her amazing work. In 2002, she also received the national Dromkeen Medal for her contributions to children's literature. Today, Ann James still lives and works in Melbourne. She helps run the Books Illustrated gallery and studio, which she started with Ann Haddon in 1988.

Ann James's Life Story

Ann James was born in Melbourne, Australia, in October 1952. She grew up in a suburb called Ringwood. She went to Norwood Primary School and Tintern Girls School. Later, she studied at Melbourne Teachers College.

Ann trained to be an arts and crafts teacher. She taught at Doveton and Ringwood High School in Melbourne. After teaching, she worked for the Ministry of Education in Victoria. From 1978 to 1988, she worked there as a graphic designer and illustrator for educational books.

During this time, Ann also started drawing pictures for children's books on her own. Her first book was A Pet for Mrs Arbuckle, written by Gwenda Smyth. They entered it in a competition in 1981. As her book career grew (she had 14 books published by 1988!), Ann left her job at the Department of Education. She then helped start a special gallery called Books Illustrated. This gallery is all about children's book illustrations. Since then, she has worked to promote Australian children's books. She continues to illustrate books from her home in Melbourne and her country studio near Castlemaine, Victoria.

Ann James's Work

Many of Ann James's books have won or been chosen as finalists for the Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA) book of the year awards.

• Bernice Knows Best, by Max Dann, won the CBCA Junior Book of the Year in 1984.
• Hannah Plus One by Libby Gleeson won the same award in 1997.
• Also in 1997, The Midnight Gang, by Margaret Wild, was recognized as a CBCA Picture Book of the Year Honor book. It also won three Children's Choice awards across Australia.

Other books that were finalists for the CBCA Awards include:

• Dog In, Cat Out, by Gillian Rubinstein
• Hannah and the Tomorrow Room, by Libby Gleeson
• Looking Out for Sampson, by Libby Hathorn
• Penny Pollard’s Diary and Penny Pollard’s Letters by Robin Klein

In 1988, Ann James started the Books Illustrated gallery and studio in Melbourne with Ann Haddon. This gallery has become an important place for children's literature and book illustration. It has shown the work of many well-known Australian illustrators, like Terry Denton, Shaun Tan, and Leigh Hobbs.

Ann James's original drawings are kept in special collections. These include the Lu Rees Archives at University of Canberra, the Dromkeen Collection, and the Fremantle Children's Literature Centre.

In 2016, Ann James was given the Member of the Order of Australia award. This was "for significant service to children's literature as an author and illustrator, and through advocacy roles with literacy and professional bodies." It means she was recognized for her big impact on children's books and for helping people learn to read.

Books by Ann James

• A Pet for Mrs Arbuckle, Gwenda Smyth, Thomas Nelson, 1981
• Jo Jo and Mike, Jenny Wagner, Thomas Nelson, 1982
• Bernice Knows Best, Max Dann, 1983
• Penny Pollard's Diary, Robin Klein, Oxford University Press, 1983
• The ABC of What You Can Be, Sugar & Snails Press, 1984
• Where's my Shoe?, Hazel Edwards, Longman Cheshire, 1984
• Snakes & Ladders, Robin Klein, Dent, 1984
• Penny Pollard's Letters, Robin Klein, 1984
• Dangers and Disasters, various authors, Methuen, 1986
• Penny Pollard in Print, Robin Klein, Oxford University Press, 1986
• Looking Out for Sampson, Libby Hathorn, Oxford University Press, 1987
• Sportsmad, Hazel Edwards, Longman, 1987
• Penny Pollard's Passport, Robin Klein, Oxford University Press, 1988
• Wiggy and Boa, Anna Fienberg, Houghton Mifflin, 1988
• A Hobby for Mrs Arbuckle, Gwenda Smyth, Viking, 1989
• One Day: a very first Dictionary, Oxford University Press, 1989
• Prince Lachlan, Nette Hilton, Omnibus Books, 1989
• Penny Pollard's Guide to Modern Maners, Robin Klein, 1989
• Beryl & Bertha at the Beach, Pippa MacPherson, Oxford University Press, 1990
• Amy the Indefatigable Autograph Hunter, Judith Worthy, Angus & Robertson, 1990
• First at Last, Julia McClelland, Oxford University Press, 1990
• Dial-a-Croc, Mike Dumbleton, Omnibus Books 1991
• Dog In, Cat Out, Gillian Rubinstein, Omnibus Books, 1991
• The Ding Dong Daily, Kathleen Hill, Heineman, 1991
• The Ding Dong Daily Extra, Kathleen Hill, Heineman, 1992
• The Backsack Bulletin, Rod Quantock, Mammoth, 1992
• Tangles, Errol Broome, Allen & Unwin, 1993
• Rockhopper, Errol Broome, Allen & Unwin, 1994
• Snap!, Margaret Ballinger, Houghton Mifflin (US), 1994
• Jessica Joan, Wendy Orr, Heineman, 1994
• Skating on Sand, Libby Gleeson, Penguin, 1994
• Madeline the Mermaid and other Fishy Tales, Anna Fienberg, Allen & Unwin, 1995
• The Butterfly, Roger Vaughan Carr, Random House, 1996
• Making Pictures: techniques for illustrating Children's Books, Ann Haddon, Scholastic 1996
• Hannah Plus One, Libby Gleeson, Penguin, 1996
• Dead Sailors don't Bite, Anna Fienberg. Little Ark, 1996
• The Midnight Gang, Margaret Wild, Omnibus, 1996
• Pidge, Krista Bell, Allen & Unwin, 1997
• Dog Star, Janeen Brian, Omnibus Books, 1997
• After Dusk, Ted Greenwood, Penguin, 1997
• A Coat of Cats, Jeri Kroll, Lothian Books, 1998
• Elephant's Lunch, Kate Walker, Omnibus Books, 1998
• Magnus Maybe, Errol Broome, Allan & Unwin, 1998
• Lizzy & Smiley, Julia McClelland, Penguin, 1999
• The Midnight Feast, Margaret Wild, ABC Books, 1999
• Penny Pollard's Scrapbook, Robin Klein, Hodder Headline, 1999
• Penny Pollard's Diary, Robin Klein, Hodder Headline, 1999 (reissue, new format)
• Penny Pollard's Passport, Robin Klein, Hodder Headline, 1999 (reissue, new format)
• Penny Pollard in Print, Robin Klein, Hodder Headline, 1999 (reissue, new format)
• Penny Pollard's Letters, Robin Klein, Hoddet Headline, 1999 (reissue, new format)
• Penny Pollard's Guide to Modern Manners, Robin Klein, Hodde Headline, 1999 (reissue, new format)
• Hannah & the Tomorrow Room, Libby Gleeson, Penguin, 1999
• Baby, Tania Cox, Working Titles Press, 2000
• Missing Mem, Errol Broome, Allen & Unwin, 2000
• Jessica Joan, Wendy Orr, Koala Books (reissue, new format, new publisher), 2000
• The Mermaid's Tail, Raewyn Caisley, Penguin Books, 2001
• Shutting the Chooks In, Libby Gleeson, Scholastic, 2003
• Shoo Cat, Ian Bone, Omnibus Books, 2003
• Little Humpty, Margaret Wild, Little Hare Books, 2003
• Jessie & Mr Smith, Jane Godwin, Penguin, 2003
• Hannah the Famous, Libby Gleeson, Penguin Books, 2004
• The Way I Love You, David Bedford, Little Hare Books, 2004
• Muscles, Hazel Edwards, Lothian Books, 2005
• Tai's Penguin, Raewyn Caisley, Penguin Books, 2006
• Ready, Set, Skip!, Jane O'Connor, Penguin Books, US, 2007. Penguin Books Australia, 2007
• Lucy Goosey, Margaret Wild, Little Hare Books, October 2007
• Audrey of the Outback, Christine Harris, Little Hare Books, 2008
• Audrey Goes to Town, Christine Harris, Little Hare Books, 2008
• Sadie & Ratz, Sonya Hartnett, Penguin Books, 2008
• I'm A Dirty Dinosaur, Janeen Brian, Penguin Books, 2013 ISBN: 9780670076154
• I’m A Hungry Dinosaur, Janeen Brian, Penguin Books, 2015 ISBN: 9780670078103