Lynley Dodd facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dame Lynley Dodd
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| Born | Lynley Stuart Dodd 5 July 1941 Rotorua, New Zealand |
| Occupation | Writer, illustrator |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's, picture books |
| Notable works | |
| Notable awards | Margaret Mahy Award |
| Relatives | Eve Sutton (cousin-in-law) |
Dame Lynley Stuart Dodd is a famous author and illustrator from New Zealand. She was born on July 5, 1941. She is best known for her amazing Hairy Maclary and Friends book series. These books feature fun animals with rhyming names. Over five million copies of her books have been sold all around the world! In 1999, Lynley Dodd won the Margaret Mahy Award, which is a very special prize for children's authors.
She received a high honour from New Zealand in 2002. This honour was changed in 2009, making her a "Dame." This is like being a knight, but for women.
Life and Books
Lynley Dodd was born in Rotorua, New Zealand, in 1941. She grew up as an only child in a place called Kaingaroa Forest. She went to school in Iwitahi and Tauranga. Later, she studied art at the Elam School of Fine Arts in Auckland.
After finishing art school, Lynley Dodd became an art teacher. She taught for five years in Wellington. While teaching, she met her husband, Tony. After they got married, she started working as a freelance illustrator. This means she drew pictures for different projects.
Her very first book was My Cat Likes To Hide In Boxes, which came out in 1974. She wrote this book with her cousin-in-law, Eve Sutton. Her first book that she wrote all by herself was The Nickle Nackle Tree in 1976.
The Hairy Maclary Series
In 1983, the first book in her most famous series, Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy, was published. This book became very popular! Many more books followed, including Hairy Maclary’s Bone (1984) and Hairy Maclary Scattercat (1985). Several of her Hairy Maclary books won the New Zealand Children's Picture Book of the Year Award.
In 1997, Lynley Dodd even wrote the scripts for a TV show based on the Hairy Maclary series. The show had 10 short episodes. In 2005, her book The Other Ark won a special award chosen by children.
A cool sculpture of Hairy Maclary and his friends was put up in Tauranga in 2015. It was officially opened by the former Prime Minister of New Zealand, John Key. In 2019, the Prime Minister at the time, Jacinda Ardern, read Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy on a TV show called Goodnight Kiwi. As of 2019, Lynley Dodd lived in Tauranga.
Awards and Honours
Lynley Dodd has received many important awards for her work.
- In 1990, she was given the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal.
- In 1999, she received the Margaret Mahy Award. This award celebrates people who have made a big difference in children's literature.
- In 2002, she was appointed a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit. This was for her great contributions to children's books and illustrations.
- In 2009, this honour was changed, and she became a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit. This is one of the highest honours in New Zealand.
- In 2024, she received the Prime Minister's Awards for Literary Achievement. This award celebrates her amazing writing career.
Books by Lynley Dodd
Here is a list of some of the wonderful books Lynley Dodd has written and illustrated:
- 1973 – My Cat Likes to Hide in Boxes
- 1976 – The Nickle Nackle Tree
- 1978 – Titimus Trim
- 1982 – The Apple Tree
- 1982 – The Smallest Turtle
- 1983 – Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy
- 1984 – Hairy Maclary's Bone
- 1985 – Hairy Maclary Scattercat
- 1986 – Wake Up, Bear
- 1987 – Hairy Maclary's Caterwaul Caper
- 1988 – A Dragon In A Wagon
- 1989 – Hairy Maclary's Rumpus at the Vet
- 1990 – Slinky Malinki
- 1991 – Find Me A Tiger
- 1991 – Hairy Maclary's Showbusiness
- 1992 – The Minister's Cat ABC
- 1993 – Slinky Malinki, Open The Door
- 1994 – Schnitzel von Krumm's Basketwork
- 1995 – Sniff-Snuff-Snap!
- 1996 – Schnitzel von Krumm Forget-Me-Not
- 1997 – Hairy Maclary, Sit
- 1998 – Slinky Malinki Catflaps
- 1999 – Hairy Maclary and Zachary Quack
- 2000 – Hedgehog Howdedo
- 2001 – Scarface Claw
- 2002 – Schnitzel von Krumm, Dogs Never Climb Trees
- 2004 – The Other Ark
- 2005 – Zachary Quack Minimonster
- 2006 – Slinky Malinki's Christmas Crackers
- 2007 – Hairy Maclary's Hat Tricks
- 2008 – The Dudgeon is Coming
- 2009 – Hairy Maclary, Shoo
- 2012 – Slinky Malinki, Early Bird
- 2017 – Scarface Claw, Hold Tight!
