Elizabeth Honey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Elizabeth Honey
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Honey in 2013
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| Born | 7 February 1947 Wonthaggi, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation | Writer, illustrator, poet |
| Genre | Children's literature, children's poetry, children's theatre |
Elizabeth Madden Honey (born February 7, 1947) is a popular Australian author, illustrator, and poet. She is famous for her fun picture books and novels for middle-school readers. Her books are loved by kids all over the world. She currently lives in Richmond, a suburb of Melbourne, Australia.
Honey has won many awards for her work. In 1997, her book Not a Nibble won the Children's Book of the Year Award: Picture Book. Her novel 45 & 47 Stella Street and everything that Happened also won several awards, including one from Italy. In 2001, she received an award for how her books teach kids about the environment.
Contents
Early Life and Career
Growing Up in Victoria
Elizabeth Honey was born in Wonthaggi, a coal mining town in Victoria. She grew up on a dairy farm and was the third of four children. As a child, she was often sick, which led her to become a passionate reader. Later, her family moved to a farm near Geelong, where she went to high school.
After high school, Honey moved to Melbourne to study art. She was one of the first students at Australia's first film school. It was the 1960s, a time of great creativity and new ideas. Honey and her friends were full of energy and confidence. They watched films from all over the world and even put on their own shows. This exciting time at art school had a big impact on her.
From Film to Books
After her studies, Honey worked in film and advertising. She also traveled a lot. Eventually, she started working as a freelance illustrator, drawing for newspapers and even designing stamps for Australia Post.
She enjoyed illustrating, but she found that making children's books was what she loved most. In 1988, she published Princess Beatrice and the Rotten Robber, the first book she both wrote and illustrated. A publisher encouraged her, and she soon became a well-known voice in Australian children's literature. Her stories are often funny and feature strong, outspoken characters.
Many of Honey's ideas come from her own family life. Her first poetry book, Honey Sandwich, includes poems about everyday things, like losing your belongings:
Looking for my sandals.
Looking for my hat.
I spend all my life
doing that.
In 1995, she published her first novel, 45 + 47 Stella Street and everything that happened. It was a huge success and was translated into many languages. This book started a series, with the latest one, From Stella Street to Amsterdam, published in 2020.
Famous Works
Elizabeth Honey has created many books for children of all ages. Here are some of her most well-known works.
Picture Books
- Princess Beatrice and the Rotten Robber (1988)
- The Cherry Dress (1993)
- Not a Nibble! (1996)
- I'm Still Awake, Still! (2008)
- That's not a Daffodil! (2011)
Poetry
- Honey Sandwich (1993)
- Mongrel Doggerel (1998)
- The Moon in the Man (2003)
Novels
Honey is famous for her Stella Street series, which follows the adventures of a group of friends.
- 45 + 47 Stella Street and Everything that Happened (1995)
- Fiddle-back (1998)
- The Ballad of Cauldron Bay (2004)
- To the Boy in Berlin (2007)
- From Stella Street to Amsterdam (2020)
Other popular novels include:
- Don't Pat the Wombat! (1996)
- What Do You Think, Feezal? (1997)
- Remote Man (2000)
From Book to Stage
Some of Honey's books have been turned into plays and musicals.
- Mr Bleak and the Etryop: This play premiered at the Melbourne Comedy Festival in 2007. It's about a man who is obsessed with being productive until a group of fun-loving schoolchildren teach him about poetry.
- I'm Still Awake, Still!: This musical, based on the book and songs by Honey and Sue Johnson, opened in 2011. A review said it was a "clever blend of comedy and song" that celebrates how playful children are.
- That's not a Daffodil: This play, based on her book, premiered in 2015. It tells the story of a boy who receives a daffodil bulb from his elderly Turkish neighbor.
Awards and Recognition
Elizabeth Honey has won dozens of awards for her books. Here are just a few highlights.
- 1997: Won the Children's Book of the Year Award: Picture Book for Not a Nibble.
- 1997: Won the Prize Cento in Italy and the Young Australians Best Book Award (YABBA) for 45 & 47 Stella Street and everything that happened.
- 2001: Received the Environment Award for Children's Literature for her book Remote Man.
- 2003: Her book Remote Man was shortlisted for a major German literature prize and was selected for the New York Public Library's list of top books for teens.
- 2012: Her picture book That's not a daffodil! was named an Honour Book by the Children's Book Council of Australia.
