Kim Gamble facts for kids

Kim Gamble (1952–2016) was a talented Australian artist who drew pictures for children's books. He is most famous for his amazing drawings in the Tashi books. These books have been read all over the world, translated into more than 20 languages, and even made into a TV show!

Early Life and First Steps

Kim Hunter Gamble was born in Sydney, Australia, on July 13, 1952. Before he became a famous illustrator, he worked as a teacher and had other jobs. But his true passion was drawing, and he eventually followed his dream to become a children's book artist.

Becoming an Illustrator

Kim Gamble taught himself how to draw and illustrate. He started creating pictures for children's stories when he was 24 years old. His very first job was in 1976 for a book called The Land Behind the World. Later, in 1989, he began illustrating for School Magazine, a popular magazine for kids, and he continued working with them for many years.

It was at the School Magazine that Kim met Anna Fienberg, an author who was the editor there. They became a fantastic team, working together on more than twenty books!

Famous Books and Collaborations

Kim Gamble and Anna Fienberg created many wonderful books together. One of their first big successes was The Magnificent Nose and Other Marvels, published in 1991.

But their most famous work is definitely the Tashi series. These books tell exciting stories about a brave little boy named Tashi and his adventures. The Tashi books became incredibly popular, translated into over 20 languages, and even turned into a TV series so more kids could enjoy Tashi's world.

They also worked on the Minton series and a book called Joseph. Joseph was even nominated for a special award in 2002, the CBCA Picture Book of the Year Award.

Kim Gamble illustrated over seventy books during his career, working with many different authors. Some of his original artwork for The Hottest Boy Who Ever Lived (another book with Anna Fienberg) is kept in a special place called the National Centre for Australian Children's Literature. This center collects important works from Australian children's books.

His Works

Kim Gamble illustrated many beloved books. Here are some of the well-known series he worked on:

Tashi books

These books tell the magical adventures of Tashi, a small boy who faces giants, dragons, and tricky villains.

Minton books

This series features Minton, a charming character, in various fun and imaginative stories.

Awards and Recognition

Kim Gamble's talent was recognized with awards. In 1992, he won the Crichton Award for Children's Book Illustration. This award celebrates new and promising illustrators in children's books.

Personal Life

Kim Gamble had two daughters named Greer and Arielle. He passed away on February 19, 2016, at the age of 63, leaving behind a wonderful collection of illustrations that continue to bring joy to children around the world.