Robyn Belton facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Robyn Belton
Belton at the 2021 Dunedin Writers and Readers Festival
Born	1947 (age 77–78)
Known for	Illustration

Robyn Belton is a talented artist who illustrates books for children. Her artwork often explores important themes like war and peace. She has won many special awards for her work. These include the New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards in 1997 and the Russell Clark Award in both 1985 and 2009. Robyn herself has been honored with the famous Storylines Margaret Mahy Award. She also received the first-ever Ignition Children's Book Festival Award. Robyn lives in Otago, New Zealand.

About Robyn Belton

Robyn Belton was born in 1947. She grew up on a farm near a place called Whangaehu, close to Whanganui. When she was 12, she went to boarding school in Whanganui. Later, she studied art at the Canterbury School of Fine Arts. A famous artist named Russell Clark was one of her teachers there.

Robyn started her career illustrating for the New Zealand School Journal in 1977. She lived in Levin and Nelson with her husband, Peter, before they moved to Dunedin.

Her Art Style

People describe Robyn's illustration style as focusing on "the details of everyday life." They also say her work has a "whimsical touch," which means it's a bit magical and playful. She has illustrated books for well-known authors like Margaret Mahy and Joy Cowley. This includes the very popular Greedy Cat series.

Robyn has also worked with author Jennifer Beck on books that gently deal with topics about war. These books include The Bantam and the Soldier and The Anzac Violin. Robyn once said that she and another artist, Jenny Cooper, had both become "war artists" without planning to. She added that she sees herself as a "Peace Warrior," hoping her art can do good in the world.

Awards and Special Opportunities

Robyn Belton's amazing work has earned her many awards and honors. Several of her books have been chosen as finalists for the Russell Clark Award for Illustration. Many have also been named Storylines Notable Books.

Top Book Awards

• The Bantam and The Soldier, written by Jennifer Beck and illustrated by Robyn Belton, won big in 1997. It was named the New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards Picture Book Winner and also the Book of the Year.
• The Duck in the Gun, an anti-war picture book by Joy Cowley and illustrated by Robyn Belton, won the Russell Clark Award in 1985. It was later chosen as one of ten books for the Hiroshima Peace Museum in Japan.
• Herbert the Brave Sea Dog was a special book because Robyn both wrote and illustrated it. This book is based on the true story of a dog lost at sea. It won the Russell Clark Award in 2009.

Other Recognitions

In 2006, Robyn was given the Storylines Margaret Mahy Medal. This is a very important award in children's literature. She gave a speech called "Gathering Images: The Stories Behind the Pictures." In 2011, she received the William Hodges Fellowship, which supports artists.

In 2015, Robyn Belton and Jennifer Beck shared a special time as writers-in-residence. This was at the University of Otago College of Education. During this time, they worked on The Anzac Violin. This book is based on the true story of Alexander Aitken and a special violin, which you can now see at Otago Boys' High School.

In 2018, Robyn received the first-ever Ignition Children's Book Festival Award in Dunedin. This award recognized her "sustained and dedicated contribution" to children's books and illustration throughout her career.

Books Illustrated by Robyn Belton

Here is a list of some of the books Robyn Belton has illustrated:

• Greedy Cat by Joy Cowley (1980)
• The Duck in the Gun by Joy Cowley (1984)
• Donkey by George Ciantar (1986)
• The Girl Who Washed in Moonlight by Margaret Mahy (1987)
• The Choosing Day by Jennifer Beck (1988)
• David's Dad by Jennifer Beck (1990)
• Bow Down Shadrach by Joy Cowley (1991)
• I'm Glad the Sky is Painted Blue: Poems for the Very Young selected by Rosalyn Barnett (1993)
• The Bantam and the Soldier by Jennifer Beck (1996)
• Pigeon Princess: A Modern Fantasy by Joy Cowley (2001)
• The Christmas Caravan by Jennifer Beck (2002)
• Greedy Cat and the Birthday Cake by Joy Cowley (2003)
• Greedy Cat and the School Pet Show by Joy Cowley (2004)
• Marta and the Manger Straw: A Christmas Tradition from Poland by Virginia Kroll (2005)
• Greedy Cat and the Sneeze by Joy Cowley (2006)
• Herbert: The Brave Sea Dog (written and illustrated by Robyn Belton) (2008)
• Greedy Cat and the Goldfish by Joy Cowley (2009)
• Farmer John's Tractor by Sally Sutton (2012)
• Teddy Bear's Promise by Diana Noonan (2013)
• The Anzac Violin by Jennifer Beck (2018)