Cirrus@Austlit

Janet McLean grew up in the Melbourne suburb of Essendon. Her father was a Presbyterian minister and co-founder of the Australian Peace Movement. She trained as a kindergarten teacher (1964-1966) and completed a Diploma in Special Education (1976-1977).

Janet and her husband Andrew McLean (q.v.) have won critical acclaim for the children's books they have created together, often as co-authors, but also with Andrew acting as illustrator only. While a teacher at Yarralea Children's Centre, Janet McLean was highly commended and awarded $5,000 by the Australian Government Department of Education, Science and Training for her success in improving social competencies, literacies and lateral thinking through story writing and story telling.