Today, Lynley is a big fan of Quentin Blake 'because of his humour and very clever art work. It also tells the fascinating tale of an ordinary life. This is a beautifully produced book which gives a real insight into how Lynley Dodd creates her wonderful art. It comes as no surprise that, as a child, she adored Dr Seuss because of his 'crazy sounds and the fact that he took such liberties with the English language.' Other favourite authors included A A Milne and the fairy tales of The Grimm Brothers and Hans Christian Andersen. This is the tale of how a small girl raised in Kaingaroa Forest became the illustrator and virtuoso wordsmith behind so many picture books that are living classics. As well as being a visual delight, these are some of the most rewarding books for children and adults to read out loud.

Exuberant artwork and bouncy rhymes come together perfectly in books like Slinky Malinki and Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy. This new paperback edition has been updated to include Lynley's latest story, Scarface Claw, Hold Tight and the sellout exhibitions of her artwork over the last decade. There was no looking back as Lynley went on to write and illustrate her own books for children. The Life and Art of Lynley Dodd is both a tale of remarkable success and a window into a brilliant creative mind. She began to work as a freelance illustrator and collaborated with author Eve Sutton on My Cat Likes To Hide in Boxes. She went on to teach art before taking a break to start a family. Lynley Dodd graduated from the Elam School of Art in Auckland with a diploma in Fine Arts, majoring in sculpture.

The life and art of lynley dodd