Bob Kerr (born 1951)[1] is an author, illustrator and artist based in Wellington, New Zealand.[2][3][4] He writes and illustrates children’s books and has won several awards for his work.[1] He lives and works in Wellington, New Zealand.
Biography
editBob Kerr was born in 1951 in Wellington, New Zealand. He grew up in Tokoroa and graduated with a Diploma of Fine Arts (Hons) in 1974 from the University of Auckland.[2] In 1973 he was an editor of Craccum (the Auckland University Students' Association weekly magazine) along with collaborator Stephen Ballantyne, with whom he went on to create Terry and the Gunrunners,[5] which has been adapted for television twice. The first series was released in 1985 and is hosted in full on NZ On Screen.[6] The 2016 series[7] was "a darker, edgier, more mature reboot of the show".[8] The comic was re-issued in 2015.[9][10]
He was a judge of the New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards in 2005 and 2012; in 2005 he was the convener of the panel.[2]
Many of his stories have appeared in the New Zealand School Journal.[11] He was included in the book A Nest of Singing Birds: 100 Years of the New Zealand School Journal.[12]
Painting
editKerr's paintings are often based on historical events.[4] His work has featured the stories of conscientious objectors,[13] scientists,[14] the New Zealand Wars,[15] the 1916 police invasion of Maungapohatu,[5] a New Zealand soldier's experiences during the Gallipoli campaign,[16] and the Waihi miners' strike of 1912.[17] His best-known work appears on the cover of Michael King's book The Penguin History of New Zealand (2003).[18]
Select bibliography
edit- Lucy’s Big Plan, text by Christine Harris (Collins 1977).
- Lucy Loops the Loop, text by Oz Kraus (Collins 1979)
- Terry and the Gunrunners, text by Stephen Ballantyne (Collins 1982)
- Terry and the Yodelling Bull, text by Stephen Ballantyne (Finlayson Hill 1986)
- Terry and the Last Moa, text by Stephen Ballantyne (Hodder & Stoughton 1990)
- For a Living, co-edited with Linda Mitchell (Working Life Publications 1991)
- The Optimist (Mallinson Rendel 1992)
- The Day of the Rain, text by Joy Cowley (Mallinson Rendel 1993)
- The Day of the Snow, text by Joy Cowley (Mallinson Rendel 1994)
- The Paper War (Mallinson Rendel 1994)
- Mechanical Harry (Mallinson Rendel 1996)
- Strange Tales from the Mall (Mallinson Rendel 1998)
- Mechanical Harry and the Flying Bicycle (Mallinson Rendel 1999)
- After the War (Mallinson Rendel 2000)
- Field punishment No.1., text by David Grant with paintings by Bob Kerr (Steele Roberts, 2008)
- Waiheathens. Voices from a Mining Town, text by Mark Derby with paintings by Bob Kerr (Atuanui Press, 2013)
- Best Mates, text by Philippa Werry (New Holland Publishers, 2014)
- Changing Times, The Story of a New Zealand Town and its Newspaper (Potton and Burton 2015)
Awards and prizes
edit- 1993 AIM Children’s Book Awards Best First Book for The Optimist.
- 1993 AIM Children’s Book Awards Junior Fiction Shortlist for The Optimist.
- 1994 AIM Children’s Book Awards Picture Book Shortlist for The Day of the Rain.
- 1997 New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards Children’s Choice Winner for Mechanical Harry.
- 1997 New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards Picture Book Shortlist for Mechanical Harry.
- 1999 New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards Junior Fiction Shortlist for Strange Tales from the Mall.
- 2000 Storylines Notable Book Awards Picture Books List for Mechanical Harry and the Flying Bicycle.
- 2001 Russell Clark Award Winner for After the War.
- 2001 Esther Glen Award Shortlist for After the War.
- 2001 New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards Picture Book Shortlist for After the War.
- 2001 PANZ Book Design Awards Best Use of Illustration Winner for After the War.
- 2001 Storylines Notable Book Awards Picture Books List for After the War.
- 2016 Storylines Notable Book Award (Picture Book) for Changing Times: The Story of a New Zealand Town and its Newspaper.
- 2016 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults finalist for the Elsie Locke Non-Fiction Award for Changing Times.
- 2016 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults finalist for the Russell Clark Award for Illustration for Changing Times.
References
edit- ^ a b "| New Zealand Book Council". www.bookcouncil.org.nz.
- ^ a b c "Bob Kerr – New Zealand Society of Authors (PEN NZ Inc) Te Puni Kaituhi O Aotearoa".
- ^ "Interview with Bob Kerr". my.christchurchcitylibraries.com.
- ^ a b "Bob Kerr". whitespace.
- ^ a b Dann, Jennifer (July 11, 2016). "'We were just naive goofs' - Bob Kerr explains how Terry Teo was born" – via www.nzherald.co.nz.
- ^ Screen, NZ On. "Terry and the Gunrunners | Series | Television | NZ On Screen". www.nzonscreen.com.
- ^ "Terry Teo" – via www.imdb.com.
- ^ chris.schulz@nzherald.co.nz @chris__schulz, Chris Schulz (July 8, 2016). "Terry Teo: Why the '80s Kiwi icon is all grown up" – via www.nzherald.co.nz.
- ^ "School Library Details | New Zealand Book Council". www.bookcouncil.org.nz.
- ^ "Book review: Terry Teo and the Gunrunners, by Stephen Ballantyne and Bob Kerr". November 10, 2015.
- ^ "Bob Kerr". www.storylines.org.nz.
- ^ Books, N. Z. (March 1, 2008). "Still in tune, Brent Southgate". New Zealand Review of Books Pukapuka Aotearoa.
- ^ Kerr, Bob; Taonga, New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu. "Field punishment no. 1". teara.govt.nz.
- ^ "Harold Wellman, who moved the Southern Alps". Pundit. 27 March 2009.
- ^ "Studio Visit with Bob Kerr - Friends of Te Papa".
- ^ "Artist followed in soldier's footsteps". April 23, 2015 – via www.nzherald.co.nz.
- ^ "Gold Strike - Paintings by Bob Kerr » Waihi Arts Centre & Museum". www.waihimuseum.co.nz.
- ^ "The Penguin History of New Zealand by Michael King". www.penguin.co.nz.