Meet the illustrator Anna Walker

Anna Walker launched her newest book at Gleebooks on Saturday. I have loved her work for decades but had never heard her talk or had the chance to introduce myself. Here is her newest book:

Publisher blurb: In a small boat, the turtle sets off on a journey to deliver dreams in the nearby city. Meanwhile, a young girl, scared in the night by the shadows in her room, finds comfort in her toys ... but cannot sleep. As the two stories unfold side by side, the young girl and the intrepid turtle must each harness their courage and overcome their fears as their worlds collide in the most wonderful, magical way.

Kirkus review: With few words, Walker beautifully blurs the borders between consciousness and sleep as the intrepid turtle’s actions result in tender dreams for the youngster. Vivid, expressive watercolors accentuated with spray paint use texture confidently—splotchy, speckled, and sparkling—to convey the story’s narrative arc. Sparkling, splendid artistic techniques create a world worth lingering in. 

This book may just be my very favourite of Anna’s. It is almost a wordless picture book that resembles a graphic novel format with story panels throughout, there is so much scope to make the story your own. I may have cried the first time I read this gem, it is such a powerful and beautiful reassuring tale of courage, hope and finding light, even in the darkest moments. This is storytelling at its very finest, and as we find ourselves debating and discussing support for nostalgia vs contemporary picture books and also the importance of quality storytelling and art experiences for children, Anna’s entire catalogue is a masterclass in picture books being a rich storytelling experience and also an absolute work of art! Rachel Robson Gleebooks

Anna Walker bio from her webpage: Anna Walker is an illustrator and author of picture books based in Naarm/Melbourne. Using traditional mediums, Anna creates stories inspired by the quiet and sometimes joyful details of life. Her books include Florette - New York Times/New York Public Library Best Illustrated Book, Mr Huff shortlisted for the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards and winner of the CBCA book of the year Early Childhood. Her most recent book is The Dream Keeper, an exquisitely imagined journey of imagination and courage.

Anna Walker contributed her art to the launch of The Little Bookroom. Here is her Instagram page. Here is an interview with Let's Talk Picture Books. 

Some things I discovered at the book launch for Dream Keeper:

• This book took seven years to create - you need to share this with your students and also adults who think they could so easily just throw some words and illustrations together for a picture book!
• Anna completed 110 drafts of this story.
• She used spray paint and a stencil for some of her illustrations.
• Take time to linger over the end papers which are different front and back. The back ones are sure to generate some deeper discussions with an older group of students.
• Anna Walker calls her book "a story in a story".
• Notice the toys in the child's bedroom and the compare these with the animals on the island and with the final end paper.

Questions I did not ask at Gleebooks last weekend:

• Your new book Dream Keeper is almost wordless - did you consider making it completely wordless? Do you like this form? 
• Do you prefer to work alone as author and illustrator - many of your books are collaborations especially with Jane Godwin.
• Can you tell us about your plans for any new books?
• Can you talk about your CBCA awards and in particular your award for New Illustrator with your first book Santa's Aussie Holiday.

Anna Walker awards (an abridged list):

• 2026 Between by Anna Walker | Received a Notable for the Children’s Book Council of Australia Picture Book of the Year Award
• 2024 A Life Song, written by Jane Godwin, illustrated by Anna Walker | Winner of the Australian Book Industry Awards for Children’s Picture Book of the Year (ages 0-6)
• 2023 Snap! by Anna Walker | Winner of the Speech Pathology Book of the Year Award, 0 - 3 category
• 2023 Snap! by Anna Walker | Shortlisted the Children’s Book Council of Australia Picture Book of the Year: Early Childhood Award
• 2023 Snap! by Anna Walker  | Selected as a 'White Raven'—a prestigious annual selection of 200 books for children from around the world by the International Youth Library based in Germany.
• 2022 Don’t Forget, written by Jane Godwin, Illustrated by Anna Walker | Received a Notable for the Children’s Book Council of Australia Picture Book of the Year Award
• 2021 Hello Jimmy!, by Anna Walker | Received a Notable for the Children’s Book Council of Australia Picture Book of the Year Award
• 2020 Tilly, written by Jane Godwin, Illustrated by Anna Walker | Shortlisted for the Children’s Book Council of Australia Picture Book of the Year Award
• 2020 Lottie and Walter, by Anna Walker | Received a Notable for the Children’s Book Council of Australia Picture Book of the Year Award
• 2019 Go Go and the Silver Shoes, written by Jane Godwin, Illustrated by Anna Walker | Received a Notable in the Children’s Book Council of Australia Picture Book of the Year Award
• 2018 Florette by Anna Walker | Won The Wilderness Society Environment Award for Children’s Literature
• 2018 Florette by Anna Walker | Shortlisted for CBCA Book of the year
• 2018 Shortlisted in the Australian Book Design Association Best Designed Children’s Illustrated Book: Florette
• 2016 Winner of the Book of the year: Early Childhood, CBCA – Mr Huff by Anna Walker
• 2013 CBCA Awards Early Childhood Short List: Peggy by Anna Walker.
• 2013 Prime Minister’s Literary Awards Children’s fiction shortlist: Peggy by Anna Walker
• 2011 CBCA Awards 2011 Early Childhood Notable: I Don’t Believe in Dragons
• 2010 58th Book Design Awards of Australia Lets Play House
• 2009 CBCA Awards Early Childhood Notable I Love to Dance
• 2009 CBCA Awards Early Childhood Notable I Love to Sing
• 2009 CBCA Awards Early Childhood Notable I Love Holidays
• 2009 CBCA Awards Early Childhood Notable I Love Birthdays
• 2009 CBCA Awards Early Childhood Notable Little Cat and the Big Red Bus

Books I have explored here on this blog illustrated by Anna Walker:

Peggy

Kirkus Star review: A charmer of a chicken has a big adventure ...

Don't Forget

A Life Song

Mr Huff

What do you wish for?

I own a limited edition print from Florette. The Kirkus Star review said: Lessons in both gumption and the sacred nature of urban green spaces.

About Hello Jimmy Kirkus said: Walker’s artwork is delicate and understated; gentle precision gives a light touch to everything from facial expressions to chairs, shoes, and headphones.

Here is one of her newest books:

Anna Walker talks to Joy Lawn at Paperbark Words about this book

Other books to explore about dreams (a few here are from Bookroo):

When the world is dreaming

The big dreaming

The Little Bookroom Melbourne

 

The Little Bookroom opened its doors to the public on Friday the 13th October, 1960. Albert Ullin OAM, after studying literature and languages and working extensively in the booktrade in Australia and internationally, decided to focus his love for contemporary children’s literature and illustration into an Australian first: he would open a bookshop devoted solely to children’s books. Albert named his shop for a collection of whimsical short stories by Eleanor Farjeon who wrote on the occasion of the shop’s opening: “I am proud and happy to know you’ve chosen the title of my book for the title of your Bookshop in the City my Father first set foot in the 1850s when he emigrated to Australia as a boy of 16. The stories he told me of his arrival in Melbourne have always made it seem to be one of ‘my’ cities. Thankyou for giving me a home in it".  (Source)

On my last visit to Melbourne, I saw a social media post that books from the famous children's bookstore The Little Bookroom were heavily discounted. I couldn't take advantage of that because I had to catch my plane. Then I read that the store had closed but a new owner had been found. After some wonderful crowd funding the store is set to reopen soon. The new owner Michael Earp has asked some very famous Australian illustrators to reimagine the famous shop logo. Over twenty responded. I am sharing a selection here. The real logo will not change but I love this idea as a way to promote the store. People who have supported the crowd funding initiative will be sent one of these limited-edition cards - it is not too late.

Here is the new address: 

Little Bookroom
Woi-wurrung Country

8 Village Avenue, Brunswick East, VIC 3057

BIG NEWS

IBBY Australia are running their second Mini Masterpiece art auction later this year to raise funds so we can pay our IBBY.org international membership. 

Several of the wonderful illustrators you can see in this post who contributed to the project for The Little Bookroom have accepted our invitation too.  

You can read about our 2023 auction here. 

Our 2025 auction will run from 14 November to 28 November. 

Check out my Hans Christian Andersen post about Ann James

I am so lucky to own two pieces of art by Ann James - one from

It's Miroocool and the other from Bird and Bear

Take a look at this post to see more books by Anna Walker

Her new book is titled Between

Check out my post about The Truck Cat

IBBY Australian selected a book by Freya Blackwood for the

prestigious IBBY International Honour Book list in 2016 - Banjo and Ruby Red

and her fabulous book The Boy and the Elephant is now part of the 

very important Silent book collection which are books that are shared with

refugee children on the island of Lampedusa. 

Her book Afloat was a CBCA Picture Book of the Year 2025 Honour title.

Check out my post about South with the Seabirds which has links to 

other fabulous books illustrated by Jess McGeachin

Here is my 2022 Meet the Illustrator post featuring Tohby Riddle. 

He has a fun new book called Cynthia is a wild dog.

My favourite book is Nobody Owns the Moon

Here is my Meet the Illustrator post for Jess Racklyeft

Here is her web page.

Be Careful, Xiao Xin! by Sher Rill Ng was the winner of the  IBBY Ena Noel Award

Sara Acton is the illustrator who created the fabulous cover for the award winning book Runt.

I was lucky enough to submit the winning bid for the picture of Runt at our 2023 IBBY Mini Masterpiece

art auction. Here is my previous post Meet the Illustrator Sara Acton. 

Robert Ingpen won the prestigious Hans Christian Andersen award in 1986.

You can use the label 'Robert Ingpen' to see the books I have shared here on this blog. 

The most recent one is Who is the World for?

You can see books illustrated by Matt Shanks here.

Read more about Gabrielle Wang here.

A new and important book by Andrew Joyner written with Beth Ferry is

Roar for Reading

Meet the Illustrator Gabriel Evans

His newest book is Scotty and the Scotties

 

Illustrators who contributed to the Little Bookroom project: (Instagram link)

Allison Colpoys

Andrew Joyner @andypjoyner

Ann James @annjamesillustrator

Anna McGregor @annamcgregorau

Anna Walker @_annawalker_

Ben Wood @benwoodillustrator

Briony Stewart @briony_stewart

Daniel Gray-Barnett @dgraybarnett

Danny Snell @dannydsnell

Evie Barrow @evie_barrow

Freya Blackwood @freyablackwood

Gabriel Evans @gabrielevansart

Gabrielle Wang @gabriellewangbooks

Graeme Base @graemebase

Jess McGeachin @jessmcgeachin

Jess Racklyeft @jessesmess

Lucinda Gifford @lucindagifford

Matt Shanks @matt_shanks

Renée Treml @reneetreml

Robert Ingpen

Sara Acton @saraacton_illustration

Sher Rill Ng @sherrill.ng

Sophie Beer @sophiebeerdraws

Tohby Riddle @tohbyriddle

A Life Song by Jane Godwin illustrated by Anna Walker

This book is a gentle ode to growing up and to the emotional roller coaster of life. There are lines in this book that made me gasp. There are joyful moments and deeply sad life experiences all told so gently.

Here are some text examples:

"You get taller still, reach out with your song,

Sing it to your brother, he might hum along

At the end of each year, your grandparents as

What did you eat? You're growing so fast."

"Days pass by, your song moves on

Someone gets sick, might even be gone

You notice the clouds, you look up at the sky

This may be the first time you see grown-ups cry

And your song adds a chorus and verse."

Walker’s vivid, watercolour-style illustrations are poignant and impactful alongside Godwin’s compelling prose. Together, this duo prompts excitement for the adventure of life ahead for young readers. ... this is a story for everyone; all kinds of readers will relish in the metaphorical meaning of song. This belongs on every kid’s bookshelf.  Better Reading

See inside this book here. And take a look at this terrific review from The Bottom Shelf. 

Jane Godwin and Anna Walker have collaborated on so many wonderful books. They are a perfect partnership.

A word of caution - you will need to practice reading A Life Song aloud before you share it with a group of children. Each rhyming verse ends with a single line which you need to read slowly allowing yourself to pause before the page turn. I wonder if someone will put the words of this book to music. I'm also keen (and this is unusual for me) to see how The Storybox Library present this book. 

This book could be a gift to celebrate the arrival of a new baby or perhaps as a graduation gift. 

I am certain this book will feature in the 2024 CBCA (Children's Book Council of Australia) awards.

Here are some companion books:

Don't Forget

Now we're Together

Dreams for our Daughters

When you're older

A Feather on a Wing

Don't Forget by Jane Godwin illustrated by Anna Walker

"Don't forget that life is long, you're not alone, 

that you are strong and don't forget that you belong."

Let's begin with the cover - the smiling faces of the children are very inviting as is the fact that they have been adventurous enough to climb a tree. One child is showing her friend a tiny caterpillar perhaps they are remembering the famous book by Eric Carle. It is a sunny autumn day and if you stretch out the cover the illustration spread right across from front to back. 

Some questions from the cover:

• Who are these children?
• What do they need to remember?
• Will we meet these children in the story?
• Do you think this book will have a message? Can you guess the author's intention from the title?

Now open the book and pause over the end papers. I like the subtle change between the front and back endpapers with the addition of the kite which has travelled on from the happy community event seen on the previous pages. 

Turn the page again and you will see a small child about to pick a dandelion flower while her dog runs on happily ahead. On the final page you will see the little girl has picked the dandelion and she is blowing the seeds onto the wind. 

The book begins with some practical advice - "Don't forget to make your bed and wear socks that fit your feet." Over the following pages the advice becomes more general and more philosophical - "Don't forget to try new things, to smell the flowers, watch the ocean and listen to the music of the trees."

The repeated motif of ‘Don’t forget’ works so well in this philosophical tale and I like the way the advice moves from practical (clean your teeth) to more abstract/mindful suggestions. 

This book would be a beautiful gift for a new baby but it is also a book you could share with older children as a way to discuss book design, placement of illustrations, pace, page turns and the way Anna Walker interprets the text by Jane Godwin of extending her words in surprising ways. Anna and Jane have made eight books together. 

This book is a worthy addition to the already bulging shelves of mindfulness books that have been appearing recently. The second last page of this book is such a joyful celebration of community and brings together all the gentle advice shared through each page as we see the children we met earlier smiling, playing, sharing, lending a hand and trying new things.  There are some very tender moments in the illustrations which beautifully extend the text well beyond the word such as ‘don’t forget to smile’ where we see the little girl helping her friend with his broken model. The variety of children Anna has included also seem very natural. It is good to notice the way scenes move from inside to outside.

Anna Walker creates love, life and community on the pages through her illustrations. She brings a whole neighbourhood alive and gives each character hopes and dreams and history. The story of their lives plays out on the pages as the kids and their families navigate their worlds, connect and share, and remember not to forget the things that matter. Kids' Book Review

Don't Forget is a CBCA Picture Book of the Year Notable title for 2022.

Take a look at my post about window books which I created as a response to our Covid lock downs. Companion books to read alongside Don't Forget:

Silence

The Quiet Book

A Song full of Sky

Extraordinary

A New Green Day

Happy