Paul Jennings (Australian author) facts for kids

Paul Jennings (born April 30, 1943) is a famous Australian writer. He was born in England. He is well-known for his short stories that often have surprising and unexpected endings, called 'twists'. Many of his stories were turned into a popular children's TV show called Round the Twist.

Paul Jennings also worked with another writer, Morris Gleitzman, on the book series Wicked! and Deadly!. Wicked! was even made into an animated TV series in 2000.

Early Life and School

Paul Jennings was born on April 30, 1943, in Heston, England. In 1949, when he was six years old, his family moved to Australia.

He went to Bentleigh West Primary School in Melbourne. Later, he attended Caulfield Grammar School.

Paul Jennings studied at Frankston Teachers' College. He became a teacher at several schools, including Frankston State School. He also taught at the Royal Children's Hospital State School.

Paul Jennings' Career

After finishing his studies, Paul Jennings worked as a speech pathologist. This means he helped people with speaking difficulties. He also taught special education at Burwood State College. Later, he became a Senior Lecturer in Language and Literature at Warrnambool Institute of Advanced Education.

In 1985, Paul Jennings published his first book of short stories, called Unreal!. He started writing for children because his son, who was 11 at the time, was having trouble with reading.

Many of Jennings' short stories were used for the children's TV show Round the Twist. This show first aired in 1989 and 1992. Some of his stories were also adapted for another series called Driven Crazy in 1998.

In 2020, Paul Jennings released his memoir, Untwisted: The Story of My Life. A memoir is a book about a person's own life. He had been working on this book for 10 years. It is his longest piece of writing.

Paul Jennings' Family Life

Paul Jennings got married for the first time when he was 22. He has six children. He is also a great-grandfather!

His third wife is the comedian Mary-Anne Fahey. Paul Jennings has two stepchildren and two adopted children. Some of his stories are inspired by children looking for their birth parents. Today, Paul Jennings lives in Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia.

Awards and Special Recognitions

Paul Jennings has received many awards for his amazing writing.

• In 1992, he won a Gold Puffin Award. This was for selling one million books in Australia!
• In 1993, he was named "Best Selling Author" and "Most Valued Author."
• Also in 1993, he was recognized as "Victorian of the Year – Western Region." This was for his contributions to the community in Victoria, Australia.
• In 1995, he received a special honor called the Member of the Order of Australia (AM). This was for his great service to children's literature.
• In 1998, Dymocks Booksellers named him their "Favourite Australian Author."
• In 2000, he received the Dromkeen Medal. This award is given for important contributions to children's literature.
• In 2010, he became a Fellow of Monash University.
• In 2019, the Children's Book Council of Australia gave him a Lifetime Achievement Award. This award celebrates his long and successful career.

Awards for His Books

Paul Jennings' books have won many awards from young readers themselves!

Young Australians' Best Book Award (YABBA):

• 1987 Unreal! – Best book for older readers
• 1988 Unbelievable! – Best book for older readers
• 1989 Uncanny! – Best book for older readers
• 1989 The Cabbage Patch Fib – Best book for younger readers
• 1990 The Paw Thing – Best book for younger readers
• 1991 Round The Twist – Best book for older readers
• 1992 Quirky Tails – Fiction for younger readers
• 1992 Unmentionable! – Fiction for older readers
• 1993 Unbearable! – Fiction for older readers
• 1994 Spooner Or Later – Picture book section
• 1994 Undone! – Fiction for younger readers
• 1995 Duck For Cover – Picture book section
• 1995 The Gizmo – Fiction for younger readers
• 1996 The Gizmo Again – Fiction for younger readers
• 1998 Wicked! – Fiction for older readers
• 2002 Tongue Tied – Fiction for Younger Readers

Canberra's Own Outstanding List (COOL Award):

• 1991 Round The Twist – Primary Section
• 1992 The Cabbage Patch Fib – Primary Section
• 1993 Unreal! – Primary Section
• 1995 The Gizmo – Primary Section
• 1997 The Paw Thing – Secondary Section
• 1998 Wicked! – Primary Section
• 2001 The Paw Thing – Coolest Book of the Decade

West Australian Young Readers' Book Award (WAYRBA):

• 1989 Unreal! – Highest Ranked Australian Author, Secondary Readers Section
• 1991 The Paw Thing – Highest Ranked Australian Author and Primary Readers Section
• 1992 Uncanny! – Highest Ranked Australian Author and Primary Readers Section
• 1994 Unbearable! – Highest Ranked Australian Author and Primary Readers Section
• 1995 Undone! – Highest Ranked Australian Author and Primary Readers Section

Kids Own Australian Literature Award (KOALA):

• 1990 Unreal! – Secondary Readers Section
• 1992 Unmentionable! – Infant/Primary Readers Section
• 1993 Unbearable! – Infant/Primary Readers Section
• 1994 Undone! – Infant/Primary Readers Section
• 1995 Duck For Cover – Infant/Primary Readers Section
• 1996 Uncovered! – Senior Book

Kids Reading Oz Choice Award (KROC):

• 1990 Uncanny! – Most Popular Oz Book
• 1991 Unbelievable! – Most Popular Oz Book
• 1992 Unreal! – Most Popular Oz Book
• 1993 Undone! – Most Popular Oz Book
• 1994 Undone! – Most Popular Oz Book
• 1995 The Gizmo – Most Popular Oz Book
• 1996 Round the Twist – Most Popular Oz Book
• 1997 Wicked! – Most Popular Oz Book
• 1998 Wicked! – Most Popular Oz Book
• 1999 The Gizmo – Best Oz Children's Book
• 2000 – No.s 1, 3, 4, 6, 7 and 10 in the Top Ten Books

Books I Love Best Yearly (BILBY Award):

• 1992 Unreal! – Read Alone Primary Section
• 1994 Undone! – Read Alone Primary Section
• 1996 The Gizmo – Read Australian Primary Section

Australian Writers' Guild:

• 1990, AWGIE Award – Best Children's Adaptation (TV) Round The Twist
• 1993, AWGIE Award – Best Children's Adaptation (TV) Round The Twist – Episode 5

ABPA Joyce Nicholson Award:

• 1993, Spooner Or Later – Best designed children's book of the year

Wilderness Society Environment Award for Children's Literature:

• 1994, Picture Book – The Fisherman and the Theefyspray

Prix Jeunesse Award:

• 1994 – Winner Round The Twist (Television Series)

Australian Publishers Association – Book Industry Awards:

• 1997 – Peoples Choice Award for Children's Books for Come Back Gizmo

Christian Schools' Book Award:

• 1998 – Awarded to Paul Jennings and Jane Tanner for The Fisherman and the Theefyspray

Dymocks Children's Choice Awards:

• 1998 – Favourite Australian Younger Reader Book, Sink The Gizmo
• 1998 – Favourite Australian Older Reader Book, Wicked

Queensland Premiers Literary Award:

• 1999 – Best Children's Book Unseen!

Television Shows

Paul Jennings' stories have been made into several popular TV shows:

• Round The Twist (1989–2001)
• Driven Crazy (1998)
• Wicked! (2000-2001)

See Also

• List of Caulfield Grammar School people