Bob Kerr (author and artist) facts for kids

Bob Kerr (born 1951) is an author, illustrator and artist based in Wellington, New Zealand. He writes and illustrates children’s books and has won several awards for his work. He lives and works in Wellington, New Zealand.

Biography

Bob Kerr was born in 1951 in Wellington, New Zealand. He grew up in Tokoroa and graduated with a Diploma of Fine Arts (Hons) in 1974 from the University of Auckland. In 1973 he was an editor of Craccum (the Auckland University Students' Association weekly magazine) along with collaborator Stephen Ballantyne, with whom he went on to create Terry and the Gunrunners, which has been adapted for television twice. The first series was released in 1985 and is hosted in full on NZ On Screen. The 2016 series was "a darker, edgier, more mature reboot of the show". The comic was re-issued in 2015.

He was a judge of the New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards in 2005 and 2012; in 2005 he was the convener of the panel.

Many of his stories have appeared in the New Zealand School Journal. He was included in the book A Nest of Singing Birds:100 Years of the New Zealand School Journal.

Painting

Kerr's paintings are often based on historical events. His work has featured the stories of conscientious objectors, scientists, the New Zealand Wars, the 1916 police invasion of Maungapohatu, a New Zealand soldier's experiences during the Gallipoli campaign, and the Waihi miners' strike of 1912. His best-known work appears on the cover of Michael King's book The Penguin History of New Zealand (2003).

Awards and Prizes

1993 AIM Children’s Book Awards Best First Book for The Optimist.
1993 AIM Children’s Book Awards Junior Fiction Shortlist for The Optimist.
1994 AIM Children’s Book Awards Picture Book Shortlist for The Day of the Rain.
1997 New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards Children’s Choice Winner for Mechanical Harry.
1997 New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards Picture Book Shortlist for Mechanical Harry.
1999 New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards Junior Fiction Shortlist for Strange Tales from the Mall.
2000 Storylines Notable Book Awards Picture Books List for Mechanical Harry and the Flying Bicycle.
2001 Russell Clark Award Winner for After the War.
2001 Esther Glen Award Shortlist for After the War.
2001 New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards Picture Book Shortlist for After the War.
2001 PANZ Book Design Awards Best Use of Illustration Winner for After the War.
2001 Storylines Notable Book Awards Picture Books List for After the War.
2016 Storylines Notable Book Award (Picture Book) for Changing Times: The Story of a New Zealand Town and its Newspaper.
2016 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults finalist for the Elsie Locke Non-Fiction Award for Changing Times.
2016 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults finalist for the Russell Clark Award for Illustration for Changing Times.