Judy Horacek facts for kids

Judy Horacek was born on November 12, 1961. She is an Australian cartoonist, artist, writer, and creator of children's books. She is famous for her award-winning children's picture book Where is the Green Sheep?, which she made with Mem Fox. Judy Horacek is also known for her cartoons, which have been seen all over the world.

She has drawn cartoons regularly for newspapers like The Age, The Canberra Times, and The Australian. Her most recent book, Now or Never (published in 2020), is her tenth collection of cartoons. In 2005, the National Library of Australia added some of her work to its collection. Judy felt proud that her work was recognized as part of Australian culture.

Judy Horacek's Life and Education

Judy Horacek has studied at several universities. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Melbourne in 1991. There, she focused on Fine Arts and English. Later, she studied Museum Studies at Victoria University. In 2007, she completed another Bachelor of Arts degree, this time in Printmedia and Drawing, from the Australian National University. Judy Horacek lives in Melbourne, Australia.

Writing and Storytelling

Judy Horacek began her career as a writer. She was part of a writing group in North Melbourne. Words are very important in her cartoons. Sometimes, the words are even more important than the pictures themselves. Her stories have been included in many different book collections.

After working with Mem Fox on a children's picture book, Judy started writing and illustrating her own children's books. This was something she had always wanted to do. She also continued to work with Mem Fox on other projects.

Her Cartoons

Judy Horacek loves finding new places for her cartoons. You can find her drawings in newspapers, magazines, and online. They also appear on different items like merchandise and special prints. People often describe her cartoons as funny and a bit unusual. Judy says she likes to "take everyday situations and make them strange."

Her early cartoons often focused on women's issues, which helped her become known as a cartoonist. Since then, her cartoons have covered many social and political topics. These include the environment, climate change, and issues important to Indigenous Australians. Cartoonist Peter Nicholson has said that Judy's cartoons often focus on people's daily lives and worries. He believes her work has a lasting value because it explores the "human condition."

Judy Horacek's first cartoon for The Age newspaper was published on International Women's Day in 1995. This cartoon, called Woman with Altitude, has become very popular. It has appeared on fridge magnets, greeting cards, and T-shirts. Judy has had regular cartoon spots in many publications. These include The Age, The Weekend Australian Magazine, The Canberra Times, and currently The Monthly.

Illustrations for Books

Judy Horacek has illustrated several books for other authors. She drew pictures for Mem Fox's non-fiction book, Reading Magic. In 2004, she illustrated her first children's book, Where Is the Green Sheep?, also by Mem Fox. This book was very successful. It was nominated for several awards and won the Children's Book Council of Australia Book of the Year award in 2005.

After this success, Judy started writing and illustrating her own children's books. Her first solo book was The Story of GROWL (2007). Other books she wrote and illustrated include "These are My Hands" (2008), "These are My Feet" (2009), and "Yellow is my favourite colour".

Where is the Green Sheep? was published in Australia and the USA in 2004. It has been translated into many languages, including Spanish, Korean, and two Australian Indigenous languages, Pitjantjatjara and Kriol. In 2024, a special edition of Where is the Green Sheep? was released with a shiny gold cover. The Royal Australian Mint also made a special 20-cent coin with one of Judy's illustrations from the book.

Children's Books by Judy Horacek

• Where Is the Green Sheep?, with Mem Fox (2004)
• The Story of GROWL (2007)
• These are My Feet (2007)
• These are My Hands (2008)
• Yellow is my favourite colour (2010)
• Good Night, Sleep Tight, Mem Fox, Illustrated by Judy Horacek (2012)
• Yellow is my colour star (2014)
• This & That with Mem Fox (2015)
• Ducks Away! with Mem Fox (2016)
• Bonnie and Ben Rhyme Again with Mem Fox (2018)
• Hey Diddle Diddle (2024)
• Meerkat Mayhem with Mem Fox (2024)

Cartoon Collections

Judy Horacek has published many collections of her cartoons. These books bring together her best and most popular drawings.

• Life on the Edge (1992)
• Unrequited Love: Nos. 1–100 (1994)
• Lost in Space (1997)
• Woman with Altitude (1997)
• If the fruit fits (1999)
• I am woman, hear me draw (2003)
• Make Cakes Not War (2007)
• If you can't stand the heat (2010)
• Random Life (2017)
• Now or Never (2020)

Art Exhibitions

Judy Horacek's prints and watercolour paintings have been shown in art galleries. She has had special exhibitions of her work. One exhibition, called Laughter, the Universe and Everything, was shown at the National Gallery of Victoria and then traveled around Victoria. Another exhibition, I am woman hear me draw, was at the National Museum of Australia in 2002 and also toured across Australia.

Other Works

Judy Horacek has also contributed illustrations to other books:

• Mary Jane: living through anorexia and bulimia nervosa by Sancia Robinson (1996)
• The women's power pocket book by Joan Kirner and Moira Rayner (2000)
• Reading Magic: how your child can learn to read before school and other important things by Mem Fox (2001)
• The Night Before Mother's Day by Doug MacLeod (2012)