Anna Dewdney

Anna Elizabeth Dewdney (née Luhrmann; December 25, 1965 – September 3, 2016) was an American author and illustrator of children's books. The first book she wrote and illustrated, Llama Llama Red Pajama, received critical acclaim in 2005. She wrote other books in the Llama Llama series, which have all been New York Times bestsellers. Her work has been adapted into stage plays, dance performances, musicals, and an upcoming animated television series. Many states and non-profits use her books for literacy campaigns and programs, including the Library of Congress.

Biography

Dewdney spent her early childhood in Englewood, New Jersey, where she attended the Elisabeth Morrow School through the ninth grade.^[1] She continued her high school studies at Philips Academy (Andover) and then transferred to The Putney School, graduating in 1983.^[2] She earned a bachelor's degree in Art from Wesleyan University in 1987. Before her work became well known, Dewdney supported herself by working as a waitress, a rural postal carrier, and as a remedial-language, art, and history teacher at a junior boarding school for dyslexic boys.^[3] She and her partner Reed Duncan had two children and lived in Chester, Vermont until her death at age 50 from brain cancer in 2016.^[4][5]

Career

Dewdney began her career illustrating a variety of books for both children and adults. She gained critical acclaim in 2005 for Llama Llama Red Pajama, the first book she both wrote and illustrated. Her work is known for its emotive content,^[6] signature characters, family relationships, and how it addresses the everyday issues of young children. The text of her work is often written in verse; because of this use of rhyming language, and because of Dewdney’s reading-advocacy work, her books are often used to promote reading and literacy.^[7][8] The Llama Llama series is highly popular among parents, teachers, and booksellers; in 2011, a Miami, Florida bookseller actually got the Llama Llama character tattooed on her arm for a bookstore event.^[9] Dewdney’s books have been translated into eight languages: Chinese, Hebrew, Korean, Indonesian, Vietnamese, Polish, Spanish, and Russian. Partial proceeds from some of her works go toward environmental awareness and conservation efforts, most notably pangolin conservation in southeast Asia.^[10][11] As of 2013, she has written fourteen children's books. In 2016 it was announced that Dewdney's Llama Llama titles were being adapted as a children's television series released by Genius Brands for Netflix in 2017, directed by Rob Minkoff and Saul Andrew Blinkoff, with Joe Purdy as showrunner.^[12]

Influences

Dewdney cites Tasha Tudor, the early work of Maurice Sendak, Russell Hoban, Garth Williams, Barbara Cooney, Elizabeth Goudge, Frances Hodgson Burnett, William Steig, E. B. White, Munro Leaf, and Robert Lawson as creative influences.^[13]

Awards and honors

Dewdney’s Llama Llama books have all been New York Times bestsellers, and several titles have reached #1 on the list. Her books regularly make the Publisher’s Weekly and IndieBooks bestsellers lists and have hit buzzworthy sales figures.^[14] Llama Llama Red Pajama was chosen as Jumpstart’s Read for the Record book in 2011, setting the world’s record for most readings of a particular book on one day.^[15] This event was recorded on the Today show on October 6, 2011, where her work was read live to the national television audience. Her work has been adapted into stage plays, dance performances, and musicals, most notably by Dolly Parton at Dollywood.^[16][17] The Dolly Parton Foundation has also chosen her Llama Llama series for The Imagination Library, a not-for-profit organization serving young children through book donations. Many states and not-for-profit organizations use her books for literacy campaigns and programs, including the Library of Congress, which featured her work and a live reading by Anna – in its 2012 National Book Festival.^[18][19] Dewdney’s work is highly acclaimed by critics and is often recommended on booklists by national reviewers.^[20]

Other awards

• Llama Llama Red Pajama: Scholastic Parent and Child "100 Greatest Books for Kids" award winner; Bank Street "Best Children’s Book" recipient; Missouri Building Block Award winner; National Public Radio pick; Carolina Children's Book Award Master List winner (picture book category)
• Llama Llama Home With Mama: Children’s Choice Book Award "Illustrator of the Year" nominee (2012)
• Llama Llama Time to Share: Children’s Choice book Award "Illustrator of the Year" nominee (2013); Thriving Family magazine’s Best Family-Friendly Picture Book finalist (2012)
• Llama Llama Mad at Mama: Missouri Building Block Award winner; winner of Alabama's Emphasis on Reading program (grades K-1); Book Sense Book of the Year Children's Illustrated Honor Book (2008)

Selected works

• Grumpy Gloria
• Llama Llama Hoppity-Hop
• Llama Llama and the Bully Goat
• Llama Llama Holiday Drama
• Llama Llama Home With Mama
• Llama Llama Mad at Mama
• Llama Llama Misses Mama
• Llama Llama Nighty-Night
• Llama Llama Red Pajama
• Llama Llama Time To Share
• Llama Llama Gram and Grandpa
• Llama Llama Zippity-Zoom
• Llama Llama Wakey-Wake
• Llama Llama Sand & Sun
• Llama Llama Easter Egg
• Llama Llama I Love You
• Llama Llama Jingle Bells
• Llama Llama Trick or Treat
• Nelly Gnu and Daddy Too
• Nobunny’s Perfect
• Roly Poly Pangolin
• Llama Llama Birthday Party!

References

External links

• Official website (No longer active, splashpage only redirecting visitors to Llama Llama site)
• Llama Llama website