NLA image of person
Pamela Allen Pamela Allen i(A35673 works by) (a.k.a. Pamela Kay Allen)
Born: Established: 1934 Auckland, Auckland (Region), North Island,
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New Zealand,
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Pacific Region, ;
Gender: Female
Arrived in Australia: ca. 1978
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BiographyHistory

Pamela Allen studied Fine Art, followed by one year's training at Auckland Teachers College. She worked as an art teacher in secondary schools and began illustrating for other authors. After moving to Australia, Allen wrote and illustrated her first children's picture book, Mr Archimedes' Bath; it was immediately recognised through a major literary award.

Eight of her books have been adapted for the stage by Patch Theatre Company and performed at the Sydney Opera House.

The Oxford Companion to Australian Children's Literature states that Allen's books are 'concerned with universal ideas [...] Pamela Allen's exuberant, spare illustrations, spontaneous humour and pared-down texts combine in deceptively simple picture-books.'

Allen was living in New Zealand in 2011.


Most Referenced Works

Notes

  • In September 2000, Patch Theatre adapted some of her picture books into a children's production, "PoM. pOm" at the Odeon Theatre.

Personal Awards

2024 recipient Order of Australia — Member of the Order of Australia (AM) For significant service to literature as an author.
VIEW ALL AWARDS

Awards for Works

y separately published work icon A Bag and a Bird Melbourne : Penguin , 2017 11623290 2017 single work picture book children's

'This is a story of a plastic bag and a bird - a cautionary tale about taking care of our environment as well as being a wonderful showcase of some of the famous sights of Sydney. 'One day, a long time ago when I lived in Kirribilli, Sydney, I packed a lunch and set out to walk to the Botanic Gardens ...I crossed the harbour bridge then climbed down to Circular Quay. I walked beside the sea wall, past the Opera House until I reached the Botanic Gardens. And this is what I saw.''  (Publication summary)
2019 shortlisted West Australian Young Readers' Book Award — Picture Books
y separately published work icon A Bag and a Bird Melbourne : Penguin , 2017 11623290 2017 single work picture book children's

'This is a story of a plastic bag and a bird - a cautionary tale about taking care of our environment as well as being a wonderful showcase of some of the famous sights of Sydney. 'One day, a long time ago when I lived in Kirribilli, Sydney, I packed a lunch and set out to walk to the Botanic Gardens ...I crossed the harbour bridge then climbed down to Circular Quay. I walked beside the sea wall, past the Opera House until I reached the Botanic Gardens. And this is what I saw.''  (Publication summary)
2019 shortlisted West Australian Young Readers' Book Award — Picture Books
y separately published work icon Mr McGee and the Elephants Camberwell : Viking , 2012 Z1888327 2012 single work picture book children's

'Mr McGee lives under an apple tree. This classic Pamela Allen tale has an unusual setting, a quirky problem and a funny twist. What would it be like to live under a tree? It’s wonderful to have an elephant to lower you to the ground when you get stuck up high, but what do you do with a greedy elephant that is stripping your tree? While rhyme and onomatopoeia add to the delicious rhythm, McGee and the Elephants is just plain fun.' (Publisher's blurb)
2013 shortlisted Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Awards — Best Language Development Book for Young Children (2005-2013)
VIEW ALL AWARDS
Last amended 21 Jul 2011 11:04:20
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