Lynley Dodd

Profile
Lynley Dodd, DCNZM, is New Zealand's best-known author and illustrator of children's picture books. She is the creator of Hairy Maclary, canine rogue-hero. Her work has sold over five million copies worldwide.

Selected published works
Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy, 1983; Hairy Maclary’s Bone, 1984; Hairy Maclary Scattercat, 1985; Hairy Maclary’s Caterwaul Caper, 1987; Hairy Maclary’s Rumpus at the Vet, 1989; Slinky Malinki, 1990; Hairy Maclary’s Showbusiness, 1991; Hairy Maclary Sit, 1997; The Other Ark, 2004; Zachary Quack Minimonster, 2005; Slinky Malinki’s Christmas Cracker, 2006; Hairy Maclary’s Hat Tricks, 2007.

Publishers
Mallinson Rendel (and Agent)
www.mallinsonrendel.co.nz
Penguin Group UK
www.penguin.co.uk
ABC Books
www.abcenterprises.com.au
Ten Speed Press, USA
www.tenspeed.com

Biography
Lynley Dodd was born in Rotorua in 1941, educated at the Iwitahi School, Tauranga College, Elam School of Art (Dip FA) and Auckland Teachers’ College. She began her career in children’s books in collaboration with Eve Sutton, for whom she illustrated My Cat Likes to Hide in Boxes (1973). It won the prestigious Esther Glen Award in 1975. Several delightful books of her own then appeared; The Nickle Nackle Tree (1976), Titimus Trim (1979), The Smallest Turtle (1982) and The Apple Tree (1982). She won the 1978 Choysa Bursary, and recognition in the 1981 NZ Book Awards for her illustrations in Clarice England's DRUSCILLA (1980).

Then, in 1983, came the first of the series of books that would bring Dodd renown: Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy. With their astute evocation of animal behaviour, energetic alliterative verse and lively, cohesively designed illustrations, Dodd’s characters and their memorable attendant rhymes have become internationally known; Hairy Maclary, Bitzer Maloney all skinny and bony, Schnitzel von Krumm with a very low tum, Bottomley Potts covered in spots, Muffin McLay like a bundle of hay, Hercules Morse as big as a horse, and, every suburb’s fiend, SCARFACE CLAW — the toughest Tom in town. The sequels were all short-listed for the Children’s Picture Book of the Year Award, which Dodd won outright in 1984, 1986, 1988 and 1992. Many other titles have also been short-listed: Wake Up, Bear (1986), A Dragon in a Wagon (1988), Slinky Malinki (1990), Find Me a Tiger (1991), The Minister’s Cat ABC (1992), Slinky Malinki Open the Door (1993), Schnitzel von Krumm’s Basketwork (1994) and Sniff-Snuff-Snap! (1995), about a bossy warthog. The Other Ark (2004) is a humorous story for young children. Noah's ark is full and Sam Jam Balu has to help out with Ark No. 2. This fast-paced tale featuring a cast of curious characters, including elephant snails, pom-pom palavers and flying flapdoodles won the Children’s Choice Award at the New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children & Young Adults 2005.

In 1999, Dodd received the Margaret Mahy Award and in 2002 she was made a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to children's literature. Dodd also won the 2006 Gaelyn Gordon Award for a Much-Loved Book for The Nickle Nackle Tree, the first book she both wrote and illustrated. The picture book was published in Britain in 1976 and has remained in print ever since.