Pamela Allen
{{for|the American civil rights and women's liberation activist (born 1943)|Chude Pam Allen}}
{{short description|New Zealand children's writer and illustrator}}
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{{Infobox writer
| name = Pamela Allen
| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=NZL|MNZM|size=100%}} {{post-nominals|country=AUS|AM|size=100%}}
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| birth_name = Pamela Kay Griffiths
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1934|04|03}}
| birth_place = Devonport, New Zealand
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| occupation = Writer and illustrator
| period = 1980–present
| genre = Children's picture books
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Pamela Kay Allen {{post-nominals|country=NZL|MNZM}} {{post-nominals|country=AUS|AM}} (née Griffiths; born 3 April 1934) is a New Zealand children's writer and illustrator. She has published over 50 picture books since 1980. Sales of her books have exceeded five million copies.
Early life and family
Born in the Auckland suburb of Devonport in 1934 to Esma Eileen (née Griffith) and William Ewart Griffiths,{{cite news | url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=NZH19340405.2.2.1 | title=Births | date=5 April 1934 | work=The New Zealand Herald | access-date=17 August 2014 | page=1}}{{cite web |url=http://christchurchcitylibraries.com/kids/childrensauthors/pamelaallen.asp |title=Interview with Pamela Allen |publisher=Christchurch City Libraries |access-date=17 August 2014}} Allen studied at St Cuthbert's College,{{cite web|url=https://oldgirls.stcuthberts.school.nz/old-girls-honours.html |title=Old Girls' Honours |date=2004}} then the Elam School of Fine Arts at the University of Auckland, from where she graduated with a Diploma of Fine Arts in 1955.{{cite web |url=http://shadowsoftime.co.nz/university10.html |title=NZ university graduates 1870–1961 |access-date=17 August 2014}} She then worked as a secondary school art teacher.{{cite book |editor1-last=Scobie |editor1-first=Susan |title=The Dromkeen Book of Australian Children's Illustrators |date=1997 |publisher=Scholastic Australia |isbn=1863886958 |pages=14–16}} She married sculptor Jim Allen in 1964.{{cite web |url=http://www.penguin.co.uk/nf/Author/AuthorPage/0,,1000000511,00.html |title=Pamela Allen |publisher=Penguin Random House |access-date=17 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819084922/http://www.penguin.co.uk/nf/Author/AuthorPage/0,,1000000511,00.html |archive-date=19 August 2014 |url-status=dead }} They moved to Sydney in about 1977,{{cite news | url=http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/art-and-design/message-in-a-bottle-20120809-23v81.html | title=Message in a bottle | date=11 August 2012 | work=The Sydney Morning Herald | access-date=17 August 2014 | first=Gabriel | last=Wilder }} and after about 30 years returned to live in Auckland, New Zealand.{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/booksandarts/pamela-allen-on-writing-for-children/5066914 |title=Pamela Allen on writing for children|date=4 November 2013 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=19 July 2016}}{{cite web |url=http://my.christchurchcitylibraries.com/new-zealand-childrens-authors/pamela-allen/ |title=Interview with Pamela Allen |year=2002 |website=christchurchcitylibraries.com/ |publisher=Christchurch City Libraries |access-date=19 July 2016}}{{cite web |url=http://www.bookcouncil.org.nz/Writers/Profiles/Allen,%20Pamela |title=Allen Pamela |website=bookcouncil.org.nz |publisher=New Zealand Book Council |access-date=19 July 2016}}
Writing career
Allen published her first book, Mr Archimedes' Bath, in 1980. Since then she has written and illustrated more than 30 picture books for children.{{cite web |url=http://www.bookcouncil.org.nz/writers/allenpamela.html |title=Allen, Pamela |publisher=New Zealand Book Council |access-date=17 August 2014}}
She has won or been shortlisted for many awards as both a writer and illustrator. She won the Children's Book Council of Australia's Children's Picture Book of The Year Award in 1983 for Who Sank the Boat? and 1984 for Bertie and the Bear, and has been shortlisted for the same award on five other occasions. She twice won the Ethel Turner Prize in the New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards, in 1980 for Mr Archimedes' Bath and 1983 for Who Sank the Boat?.{{cite web |url=http://www.storylines.org.nz/Profiles/Profiles+A-C/Pamela+Allen.html |title=Pamela Allen |publisher=Storylines Children's Literature Charitable Trust |access-date=17 August 2014}}
Allen was awarded the International Board on Books for Young People honour diploma for illustration, for Who Sank the Boat?, in 1984.{{cite web |url=https://www.qbd.com.au/author/pamela-allen/ |title=About Pamela Allen |publisher=QBD The Bookshop |access-date=17 August 2014}}
In 1986, she received the Library and Information Association of New Zealand Aotearoa Russell Clark Illustration Award for her illustrations in A Lion in the Night.{{cite web |url=http://www.lianza.org.nz/lianza-russell-clark-illustration-award-recipients |title=LIANZA Russell Clark Illustration Award Recipients |website=lianza.org.nz |publisher=LIANZA |access-date=30 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160401024749/http://www.lianza.org.nz/lianza-russell-clark-illustration-award-recipients |archive-date=1 April 2016 |url-status=dead }}
In 2001, Who Sank The Boat?, first published in 1982, won the Gaelyn Gordon Award—given to the author of a New Zealand children's book that has been a favourite with children over a long period of time—from the New Zealand Book Council.{{cite web |url=http://www.bookcouncil.org.nz/Readers/About%20NZ%20Awards |title=Awards and grants |publisher=New Zealand Book Council |access-date=17 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140919201812/http://www.bookcouncil.org.nz/Readers/About%20NZ%20Awards |archive-date=19 September 2014 |url-status=dead }}
Allen returned to live in Auckland and in 2004 she won the Margaret Mahy Medal, New Zealand's top children's literature prize.{{cite news | url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=3545013 | title= Allen wins Margaret Mahy children's literature award | date=22 January 2004 | work=The New Zealand Herald | access-date=17 August 2014}} In the 2005 New Year Honours, she was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to children's literature.{{cite web |date=2004-12-31 |title=New Year honours list 2005 |url=https://dpmc.govt.nz/publications/new-year-honours-list-2005 |access-date=6 March 2022 |publisher=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet}}
Eight of her books have been adapted for the stage by Patch Theatre Company and performed at the Sydney Opera House.{{cite web |url=http://www.humanities360.com/index.php/biography-pamela-allen-8353/ |title=Biography Pamela Allen |date=19 February 2012 |publisher=Humanities 360 |first=Julie |last=Thomas-Zucker |access-date=17 August 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819084656/http://www.humanities360.com/index.php/biography-pamela-allen-8353/ |archive-date=19 August 2014 |df=dmy-all }}
Allen's daughter, Ruth Allen, a Melbourne-based glass sculptor, was commissioned by Penguin Australia in 2008 to create an artwork to celebrate sales of over five million copies of Allen's books.{{cite web |url=http://ruthallen.com.au/art/artwork/project/the-boat/ |title=The Boat |publisher=Ruth Allen Glass Sculptor |access-date=17 August 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018062742/http://ruthallen.com.au/art/artwork/project/the-boat/ |archive-date=18 October 2014 |df=dmy-all }}
Allen was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in the 2024 Australia Day Honours for her "significant service to literature as an author".{{Cite web |title=Mrs Pamela Kay Allen |url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/3017330 |access-date=2024-01-25 |website=Australian Honours Search Facility}}
Bibliography
{{Portal |Children's literature}}
- Mr Archimedes' Bath (1980)
- Who Sank the Boat? (1982)
- Bertie and the Bear (1983)
- A Lion in the Night (1985)
- Herbert and Harry (1986)
- Mr McGee (1987)
- Fancy That! (1988)
- I Wish I Had A Pirate Suit (1989)
- My Cat Maisie (1990)
- Black Dog (1991)
- Belinda (1992)
- Mr McGee Goes to Sea (1992)
- Mr McGee and the Blackberry Jam (1993)
- Alexander's Outing (1993)
- Clippity-Clop (1994)
- Waddle Giggle Gargle (1996)
- The Bear's Lunch (1997)
- Mr McGee and the Biting Flea (1998)
- Mr McGee and the Perfect Nest (1999)
- The Pear in the Pear Tree (1999)
- Inside Mary Elizabeth's House (2000)
- Can You Keep a Secret? (2000)
- Brown Bread and Honey (2001)
- The Potato People (2001)
- Daisy All-Sorts (2002)
- Cuthbert's Babies (2003)
- Grandpa and Thomas (2003)
- Where's the Gold (2005)
- My First ABC (2006)
- Grandpa and Thomas and the Green Umbrella (2006)
- Shhh! Little Mouse (2007)
- Felix (2008)
- The Toymaker and the Bird (2009)
- Hetty's Day Out (2010)
- Mr McGee and the Elephants (2012)
Further reading
- {{Cite journal |last=Morley |first=Sarah |date=Spring 2020 |title=Mr Archimedes MOVES IN |url=https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/5570_slmagspring20_web_new.pdf |journal=SL Magazine |publisher=State Library of New South Wales |volume=13 |issue=3 |pages=48–51}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://collection.sl.nsw.gov.au/record/nQRe4ed1 Pamela Allen pictorial material and papers], 1974-2016, manuscripts, audio cassettes, video recordings, etchings and illustrations, State Library of New South Wales.
{{Margaret Mahy Award winners}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Allen, Pamela}}
Category:People from North Shore, New Zealand
Category:Elam Art School alumni
Category:New Zealand children's writers
Category:Writers who illustrated their own writing
Category:Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit
Category:Members of the Order of Australia
Category:New Zealand women children's writers
Category:New Zealand women illustrators
Category:20th-century New Zealand women writers
Category:21st-century New Zealand women writers
Category:20th-century New Zealand writers