Jeannie Baker facts for kids

Jeannie Baker is an amazing artist and author from Australia, originally from England. She is famous for her unique collage illustrations in children's picture books. Her art often focuses on nature and the environment, showing how much she cares about our planet. Many of her books have won important awards.

About Jeannie Baker's Life and Art

Jeannie Baker was born in London, England, on November 2, 1950. She studied graphic design at art schools in England. In 1975, she moved to Australia, which became her home.

How Jeannie Baker Creates Her Art

Jeannie Baker is known for her special way of making pictures. She uses a technique called collage. This means she creates images by sticking different materials together.

She loves to use real textures in her artwork. For example, she might use actual bark, feathers, or even rusty tin. This makes her pictures feel very real and alive. Her collages are not just for books; they are also shown in art galleries. You can find her works in museums in London, New York, and all over Australia.

Jeannie Baker's Award-Winning Books

Jeannie Baker has written and illustrated many popular picture books. These books have won lots of awards.

• Where The Forest Meets the Sea is a famous book about the Daintree Rainforest. It won an International Board of Books for Young People (IBBY) Honour Award. It also received a Friends of the Earth Award.
• Her book Window was shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway Medal in Great Britain.
• Both Window and Mirror won the Children’s Book Council of Australia Picture Book of the Year Award.
• Jeannie Baker was also nominated for the prestigious Hans Christian Andersen Award for Illustration in 2018. This award is like the Nobel Prize for children's literature.
• She was nominated for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award in both 2021 and 2022. This is another very important award for children's and young adult literature.

Themes in Jeannie Baker's Work

Jeannie Baker's books often explore important topics. She cares deeply about the world around us.

Some of the themes she covers include:

• Family and society
• How we can live in a way that protects the planet (sustainability)
• The environment and nature
• Creating car-free spaces in cities
• The spread of cities into natural areas (urban sprawl)
• Damage to the land (land degradation)
• The wonder of nature
• How spending less time in nature can affect us (nature deficit disorder)
• Problems caused by introduced pests
• The unique Australian Outback and its wildlife

Jeannie Baker's Books

Here is a list of books written and illustrated by Jeannie Baker:

• Polar (1975)
• Grandfather (1977)
• Grandmother (1978)
• Millicent (1980)
• One Hungry Spider (1982)
• Home in the Sky (1984)
• Where the Forest Meets the Sea (1988)
• Window (1991)
• The Story of Rosy Dock (1995)
• The Hidden Forest (2000)
• Belonging (also called Home in the United States) (2004)
• Mirror (2010)
• Circle (2016)
• Playing with Collage (2019)
• Desert Jungle (2023)

Exhibitions of Jeannie Baker's Art

Jeannie Baker's original artworks are displayed in many public collections. These include major museums and libraries across Australia.

Her art is often part of special travelling exhibitions. These shows move from one gallery to another, so more people can see her amazing collages.

• Circle - This exhibition followed the path of migratory birds called Godwits. It visited museums and galleries in Australia and other parts of the world. It was shown from May 2016 to February 2018 in various locations.
• Desert Jungle - This is another travelling exhibition. It started in May 2023 and is still touring. It has been shown in places like Penrith, Adelaide, Nowra, and Sydney.

Films Based on Jeannie Baker's Books

Some of Jeannie Baker's books have also been turned into animated films. She even directed these films herself!

• Where the Forest Meets the Sea (a 10-minute animated film)
• The Story of Rosy Dock (a 10-minute animated film)

Awards and Recognitions

Jeannie Baker's books have received many awards and honors. Here are some of the main ones:

Awards for Circle

• Indie Award Best Children's Book 2017
• Riverby Award Natural History Writing for Children 2017
• Shortlisted for several other awards in 2017, including the Young Australians Best Book Award.

Awards for Mirror

• Children’s Book Council of Australia Picture Book of the Year Award Joint Winner 2011
• Indies (Independent Booksellers Association Awards) Children’s Book of the Year Winner 2011
• Won or was shortlisted for many other awards in 2011, including the International Youth Library White Ravens Award.

Awards for Belonging

• The Wilderness Society Fiction Award for Children’s Books 2005
• ALA Notable Book USA 2005
• Children’s Book Council of Australia Picture book of the Year Honour Book 2005

Awards for The Hidden Forest

• Australian Wilderness Society Fiction Award for Children’s Books 2001
• Govern Award for Children’s Science Picture Books, USA Winner 2003

Awards for The Story of Rosy Dock

• Children’s Book Council of Australia Picture book of the Year Honour Book Award 1990
• The Australian Wilderness Society Fiction Award for Children’s books 1996
• Won a Gold medal for animation at the Palma International Film Festival 1995.

Awards for Window

• Children’s Book Council of Australia Picture Book of the Year Award 1992
• Young Australian’s Best Book Award Picture Books 1992
• Shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway medal UK 1992.

Awards for Where the Forest Meets the Sea

• Australian Children’s Book Council Picture Book of the Year Honour Book 1988
• Earthworm Book Award from Friends of the Earth UK 1988
• International Board of Books for Young People Honour Book Award 1990
• Won the Australian Film Institute award for Best Australian Animated Film 1988.

Awards for Home in the Sky

• The American Library Association Notable Book 1984
• Shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway Medal UK 1985.